Description:
ITEM: This is a fantastic primitive oil painting (on board) that was done by a Welsh woman, probably painted in the 1920s or 1930s. The colors are browns and blacks which give it a strong sepia quality and a very classically Welsh dark tone. It depicts two streams which mean in the middle of a town and the bridge over the streams. The rushing whitewater is well painted ... as are the trees that grow up and over the bridge. T are also houses in the distance. What really makes this painting special is the provenance that is written on a brown paper bag which covers the back of the picture (see 4th & 5th photos). This provenance says the following:
"Watersmeet Abercynon
Painted by Margaret (Maggie) Jones. Teacher Post Office Knighton?
Auntie Jenny's sister who died in early 1940?"
Note that the word "teacher" is crossed out and the words "Post Office" are written above them. Apparently they found out that Aunt Maggie wasn't a teacher but worked as a postal clerk instead.
Abercynon is a small village in South Wales (near Cardiff) situated at the foot of the Cynon Valley, which was a vibrant coal mining area until the the 1980s. The Cynon and Taff Rivers converge at Watersmeet - which is what is depicted in this picture. The rivers often ran black with coal dust and the darkness of this coal mining village is well depicted in this primitive painting. Knighton (w the painter apparently worked or lived?) is a village about 70 miles north of Abercynon, the village depicted in this picture.
This painting is well framed in an oak frame and it is encased in glass. Note that you do see some light reflection in the glass in the photos, unfortunately.
Condition: Excellent condition. T is no paint loss. The painting is encased in glass and the glass is a bit dirty on the inside. Frame is in good condition as well.
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