Cader Idris, with the Mawddach River

Cader Idris, with the Mawddach River

Richard Wilson, c. 1774

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Artist: Richard Wilson (British, 1713–1782)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: Unframed: 89.8 x 105.5 cm (35 3/8 x 41 9/16 in.)
Culture: England, 18th century
Museum: Cleveland Museum of Art
Rights: CC0 — no rights reserved

In the distance the peak of Cader Idris is shown, while riders in the foreground descend toward the river Mawddach. Although almost all of Wilson's earlier pictures of Wales suggest some association with that country's heroic past, here the emphasis is on the pleasing beauty of the land. Another version of this picture is in the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. Richard Wilson was the first major British artist to specialize in landscape, a focus he pursued intently after a visit to Italy in 1750-6.

The countryside around Rome, with its rich associations of ancient grandeur, inspired him to look at landscape as a source of poetry. Back in England his Italian landscapes, which appealed to his patrons (mostly English noblemen) were a great success. He then applied a similar approach to his English and Welsh scenes, treating them as vehicles for ideas and emotions.

More by Richard Wilson

Dinas Bran from Llangollen

Dinas Bran from Llangollen

Richard Wilson, 1770 to 1771

The White Monk

Kew Gardens: The Pagoda and Bridge

Kew Gardens: The Pagoda and Bridge

Richard Wilson, 1762

View near Wynnstay, the Seat of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, fourth Bt.

View near Wynnstay, the Seat of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, fourth Bt.

Richard Wilson, 1770 to 1771

A Summer Evening (Caernarfon Castle)

A Summer Evening (Caernarfon Castle)

Richard Wilson, between 1764 and 1765

The White Monk

Rome from the Villa Madama

Rome from the Villa Madama

Richard Wilson, 1753

The Destruction of the Children of Niobe

The Destruction of the Children of Niobe

Richard Wilson, 1760

View of the Wilderness in St. James's Park

View of the Wilderness in St. James's Park

Richard Wilson, between 1770 and 1775

Wilton House from the Southeast

Wilton House from the Southeast

Richard Wilson, between 1758 and 1760

Caernarfon Castle

Caernarfon Castle

Richard Wilson, ca. 1745

Dover

Richard Wilson, between 1746 and 1747

Visually similar

Rocky, Wooded Landscape with a Dell and Weir

Rocky, Wooded Landscape with a Dell and Weir

Thomas Gainsborough, c. 1782–1783

Rome from the Villa Madama

Rome from the Villa Madama

Richard Wilson, 1753

Italian landscape

Italian landscape

Herman van Swanevelt, c. 1648

Mountain Valley with Figures and Distant Village

Mountain Valley with Figures and Distant Village

Thomas Gainsborough, between 1773 and 1777

Sunrise

Claude Lorrain, possibly 1646–47

Le Rocher

Jean-Honoré Fragonard, c. 1780

Rocky landscape with passengers and footbridge

Rocky landscape with passengers and footbridge

Jan Both, 1630–1652

View near Wynnstay, the Seat of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, fourth Bt.

View near Wynnstay, the Seat of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, fourth Bt.

Richard Wilson, 1770 to 1771

Wooded Hillside with a Vista

Wooded Hillside with a Vista

Jan Both, c. 1645

Wooded Upland Landscape

Wooded Upland Landscape

Thomas Gainsborough, probably 1783

Italian Landscape

Italian Landscape

Claude Lorrain, c. 1630

Southern landscape with travellers on a flooded track

Southern landscape with travellers on a flooded track

Jan Both, c. 1641