Artwork
Swansea ferry
Swansea ferry is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist George Orleans Delamotte. It dates from 1820 and is held in the collection of the National Library of Wales.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
By foregrounding the castle and active watercraft, the artist underscores the interplay between maritime commerce and civic presence.
The painting depicts a coastal scene at Swansea, centered on the ferry crossing and its vessels. A prominent castle appears on the shoreline, anchoring the composition and signaling the town’s fortified identity. Boats and a sailing ship occupy the water, emphasizing the ferry’s role in local transport and trade.
The work likely commemorates the practical and social importance of the Swansea ferry in early nineteenth-century life, framing the crossing as both a functional necessity and a picturesque motif. By foregrounding the castle and active watercraft, the artist underscores the interplay between maritime commerce and civic presence.
Technique & Style
Swansea Ferry is executed in oil paint applied to a board support, specifically identified as cardboard in some records. The work measures 20 cm in height and 29.5 cm in width. Created in 1820 by George Orleans Delamotte, the piece is classified as a landscape painting.
The composition depicts the main subject of Swansea, featuring a ferry, sailing ship, boat, and a castle within the scene.
The artwork is currently held in the National Library of Wales Framed works of art collection. It was acquired by the institution in 2007 through a purchase at Sotheby's. The piece is designated as a public domain work, allowing for unrestricted use.
History & Provenance
The painting Swansea Ferry was created by George Orleans Delamotte in 1820. Executed in oil on board, the work depicts a landscape scene featuring a ferry, sailing ships, and a castle in Swansea. The piece measures 20 cm in height and 29.5 cm in width.
Regarding its modern ownership history, the work was acquired by the National Library of Wales. The institution purchased the painting at Sotheby's auction house in 2007. It is currently held within the National Library of Wales Framed works of art collection, where it is cataloged under accession number 4488786.
The painting Swansea Ferry is held in the collection of the National Library of Wales, specifically within its Framed works of art collection. The work carries the accession number 4488786. It entered the institution's holdings in 2007 following a purchase at Sotheby's.
No specific exhibition history for this work is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Swansea ferry is an oil painting created by George Orleans Delamotte in 1820. It is a landscape depicting a dramatic seaside scene and is held at the National Library of Wales.
Artist & collection
Artist
George Delamotte painted crisp oil views of South Wales in the 1820s. His brush captured the mouth of the Neath River from the grounds of the Earl of Jersey’s estate, Aberdyllis Mill in the Vale of Neath, and the…
- Aberystwyth Harbour
A Venetian Squero or Boatyard
On the East Coast
Shipping in a calm, with fishermen on the beach
Ships at Sea in Calm Weather
Zidul unui port; pandant: Case în port
Fishing boats in a harbor
Evening
A Coast Scene
Sailing Ships off Shore
Near Plymouth, Devon
View of the harbor of Hoorn, with a still life of fish and baskets in the foreground