Snowdon, an Approaching Storm (1853)

This page presents "Snowdon, an Approaching Storm" (1853), created by James Ward. Historical background, 1853: Landscape gained new prestige through groups such as the Barbizon painters in France and the Hudson River School in the United States, and by mid-century Realism turned to ordinary people and everyday labour. The first half of the nineteenth century moved from Neoclassicism to Romanticism, which placed emotion, nature, and the sublime at the centre of painting. Drawings in brief: Drawings range from quick preparatory sketches to finished works in pen, chalk, charcoal, graphite, or wash. Because line carries so much of the effect, drawings tend to reward close looking at the quality of the mark. It is listed in the Drawings collection. The image is in landscape orientation.

"Snowdon, an Approaching Storm" is offered as a printable file (Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI) rather than a shipped item. You receive the files by email after payment and handle printing yourself, which gives you full control over paper, size, and finish. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Measuring the wall before choosing a size is the simplest way to avoid a print that feels too small or too large. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing.

English, 1769–1859

If you like the visual language of James Ward, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.