Ronald Maddox (British, B. 1930) "Caernarfon Castle" Signed lower left. Original Watercolor painting on Illustration Board.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Great Britain 11p Caernarfon Castle stamp issued March 1, 1978.

In the thirteenth century, Wales was an unbeatable thorn in England's side. The Welsh people, led by Llywelyn, remained independent by virtue of their spirited resistance against England. In 1282, however, Llywelyn was killed. And the hopes of the Welsh people died with him. Edward I quickly overran north Wales, and a series of mighty castles were built with the intention of dominating the Welsh people physically and psychologically. The Castle at Caernarfon -- the mightiest of these fortresses -- was begun in 1283. Eleven years later, much of the castle was destroyed in an uprising against the Crown. Repair work was immediately set in hand and by 1330 the castle stood much as it appears today. By 1485, Henry Tudor, of Welsh stock, ascended to the throne. The advent of the Tudor dynasty meant that Caernarfon and the other Edwardian castles were no longer needed. But through the centuries, to this day, Caernarfon has remained the supreme surviving example of Medieval architectural flourish, representing everything that modern man's imagination says a castle should be. Small wonder, then that Caernarfon has caught the imagination of writers and painters through the ages. Or that Dr. Johnson, when he saw Caernarfon in 1774, wrote in his diary that its stupendous magnitude and strength surpassed his ideas, for, as he said, he did not think there had been such buildings in the history of man.

Image Size: 9 x 10.5 in.
Overall Size: 15.5 x 15.25 in.
Unframed.
(B05122)

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