This important watercolour dates from Grimm’s tour of Wales in the summer of 1777 with his patron Henry Penruddocke Wyndham (1736-1819). Few tourists or artists visited Wales before the 1770s as it was considered a wild and inhospitable place. However, after Paul Sandby’s tour with Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn in 1771 and Thomas Pennant’s in the company of his artist Moses Griffith two years later amongst others, the resulting accounts and engravings led to a change in attitude. Wyndham and Grimm set out in June 1777 and spent three months travelling the country. They started in Bristol and worked their way along the south coast of Wales to Pembrokeshire before continuing north via Cilgarren ending in Caernarvon. After crossing to Anglesey, they continued south-east to Llangollen then south to Llanthony and Monmouth before recrossing the Severn into England. 

This view of Caernarvon Castle across the river Seint was considered one of the most Romantic in Britain and was drawn by numerous artists (including Sandby). Two other versions by Grimm are known: a smaller studio version, also dated 1777 (private collection) and a larger version in the National Museum of Wales. This on-the-spot sketch is the basis for an engraving of this view published on 1st January 1780.

This important watercolour dates from Grimm’s tour of Wales in the summer of 1777 with his patron Henry Penruddocke Wyndham (1736-1819). Few tourists or artists visited Wales before the 1770s as it was considered a wild and inhospitable place. However after Paul Sandby’s tour with Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn in 1771 and Thomas Pennant’s in the company of his artist Moses Griffith two years later amongst others, the resulting accounts and engravings led to a change in attitude. Wyndham and Grimm set out in June 1777 and spent three months travelling the country. They started in Bristol and worked their way along the south coast of Wales to Pembrokeshire before continuing north via Cilgarren ending in Caernarvon. After crossing to Anglesey, they continued south-east to Llangollen then south to Llanthony and Monmouth before recrossing the Severn into England. This view of Caernarvon Castle across the river Seint was considered one of the most Romantic in Britain and was drawn by numerous artists (including Sandby). This on-the-spot sketch is the basis for an engraving of this view published on 1st January 1780.

James Tobin (1736/37-1817); his estate sale, Christie's, 1-2 June 1818, 2nd Day, lot 37 (as part of an album); purchased there by Colnaghi (£37.6.10, see annotated catalogue from RKDH); Sir John Fitzherbert, 8th Bt. (1913-1989); Colnaghi (London); purchased there by Walter Brandt (1902-1978), 1969; Sotheby's, London, 7 July 2011, lot 215; Guy Peppiatt Fine Art, London; purchased there by the Spooner Charitable Trust, 2020

Watermark: Watermark: Strasburg bend over letters "GR" (no countermark so unsure of exact match but a larger varint of Heawood 105, 107, 108 or 110 - 1781?, 1768, 1788 and London 1789, respectively).

Inscription: Verso: upper left corner, graphite: "f39".

Inscription: Verso: lower right corner, graphite, Colnaghi number: "D 30687".

Inscription: Recto: upper centre edge, graphite: "Caernarvon Castle".

Signature: Verso: lower centre edge, brown ink, signed and dated: "A view of Caernarvon Castle taken on the Spot by S:H: Grimm. 1777 - NB. this drawing was taken in very thick cloudy weather, in clear weather / there are many more Mountains, wich show themselves in the distance, wich were envelloped in Cloud and Fog.".