This is a non-mini topic :)I have inherited these two paintings which were painted by my great-great-great grandfather in (I think) 1886.
Written on the back is 'Varney Valley, North Wales'. I have tried to search a map of Wales to see if a valley matched anything like this name, but no luck so far. Besides, if I try to pronounce Welsh, the laughter would deafen you, and my brains fall out my ears!! :D
Just by chance, does anyone recognise the place or the name? It's not too important, but it would be be nice to know :)
Sorry the photos aren't very good.
I'm adding two more photos here - Sam King's signature, and what's written on the back - it's the same on both paintings, but this one also has very faint writing up at the right saying 'June (Jan?) -86'
Glenda
Beautiful paintings Glenda.
ReplyDeleteI did a google search on Varney Valley s well and just got this blog post lol.
Looking at them they could be anywhere in Wales...or Scotland...or England...or Ireland. There are places like that all over.
Could you be misreading his writing at all or is it pretty clear ?
Hopefully Debbie will see it.
Oh and don't worry about trying to speak Welsh...or if you do make sure no one is in spitting distance :-)
Thanks Jayne - the writing is very clear. The painter was a Yorkshireman, sohe may have just written what he 'heard'.
ReplyDeleteGlenda
How fantastic to have paintings from your great, great and another great grandfather, hope you find out the location!
ReplyDeleteI will ask my friend who is from Wales and speaks the language if there is a place name that sounds like Varney.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful paintings!! I love the second one! What a sweet thing to inherit!
ReplyDeleteThankyou ladies! They need a clean, and they're not outstandingly well painted, but I like them.
ReplyDeletePatty - yes the cottage does have a nice emotional impact - easier to imagine myself standing on that bridge than wading in the wetlands . . .
Beautiful paintings. I will ask hubby when he gets up, (it's early in the morning here) Hubby speaks welsh and comes from these small welsh communities in the middle of nowhere! Failing that I'll ask my dad, he loves North Wales. We will find it :0)
ReplyDeleteJulia xx
Thanks so much, Julia! Good luck! :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe I knew a place like this ...
ReplyDeleteit is great!
I can not help in your research, but I congratulate you for the wonderful legacy :-)
Mini hugs, Flora
Glenda, I've also looked up Varney Valley, but can't find anything. Have you got the name of the Painter? Maybe we could try searching from that Angle. xxx
ReplyDeleteAlso there is no "V" in the Welsh Alphabet.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_alphabet.
I'll ask our Welsh friends and see if they can shed any light on it for you..xxx
Hubby's not heard of it and Varney doesn't translate in Welsh. I will get my dad onto it, he loves a historic mission, describe a historic building or garden to him in Wales and he will name it and tell you when he went there!
ReplyDeleteBetween us, hopefully Debbie and my dad will find your answer :0)
Julia xx
I have not idea but they are so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhat a luck to have something from your greta greta great-father :)
Glenda, I thought the paintings were very well done. I love the colours and for the 2nd picture, I really like how he drew the bunched up trees :).
ReplyDeleteMaybe you can show a pic of the handwritten words? It may then ring a bell to someone who know North Wales well?
Debbie - his name was Sam King, and the family story is that he was for a while a member of one of the art academies, they said the Royal Academy but I think that may be wishful thinking,in the way of re-told family histories :)
ReplyDeleteGlenda
Sans - yes! The trees look like they are sheltering the cottage :)
ReplyDeleteI can't help with the Welsh bit, sorry - but they're lovely pieces to inherit.
ReplyDelete