Hugh Hughes

full-length with a gun dog, a landscape beyond

Commissioned from the artist by the sitter;
by descent from the sitter to John Pugh Vaughan-Pryse of Bwlch Bychan, son-in-law of John Walters Phillipps of Aberglasney; 
by descent to Mrs Mayhew, his daughter, who inherited Aberglasney from her grandfather

J. Steegman, A Survey of Portraits in Welsh Homes, 1962, Vol 2, p.41, no. 4

STRUCTURE The canvas has been lined. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be in good condition. There are some very minor abrasion marks at the edge of the canvas where it meets the frame and one very small chip to the surface of the paint half way up the canvas on the extreme left. There is one area of visible retouching on the sitters left leg aswell as scattered retouching down the lower right hand egde. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals scattered minor retouchings overall and slight discolouration to the varnish. FRAME Held in a gilded wooden frame with moulded finishings.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The sitter was the son of Lewish Vaughan of Penmaen Dyfi near Mackyalleth. In a letter dated 13th Janurary 1826 to the Rev. Jenkins, the artist makes specific mention of this commision: "I have painted six portraits in this neighbourhood, one of which is that of Mr Vaughan of Penmaen, a yard and a half long". Hugh Hughes is generally considered to be the first truly national artist of Wales. Born in a farmhouse near Llandudno and forced to leave Wales by the rural depression, he moved with his family to Liverpool aged twelve in 1802. For the next ten years he worked in Liverpool as an apprentice wood engraver and also began painting portraits. On his return to Wales in 1812 he worked as an itinerant portrait painter. In 1814 he moved to London and in 1818 made the momentous decision to venture into the lucrative market for travel books embellished with topographical engravings. Encouraged by the support of advance subscribers, including Sir Watkin Williams Wynne, he travelled widely throughout Wales doing sketches and the result was Beauties of Cambria, for which he was much feted at the Powys Eisteddfod. At the same time he was able to obtain wider patronage for his portraits from leaders of the cultural revolution taking place in Wales. By the late 1820s he had become known for his radical views on religion becoming an active member of a Welsh society known as Cymreigyddion. He also controvercially supported Catholic emancipation and one of his fine portraits done in London was of Lord Holland and Lord Russell who were leaders in that campaign. In 1832 he moved with his wife to Carnarvon and devoted much of his energies to landscape painting. See P. Lord, The Visual Culture of Wales: Imaging the Nation (Cardiff, 2000), pp. 168-244.