Mawddach Falls near Dolgelly 1790

John Webber made this watercolor drawing of Mawddach Falls near Dolgelly sometime in the late 1700s. Webber’s identity as a Swiss artist who trained in Paris and later worked in London, shaped his perspective and artistic style. Here, the cascading falls and rugged terrain evoke the sublime, reflecting the romantic fascination with nature that was fashionable at the time. Webber’s involvement as a draughtsman on Captain Cook’s third voyage infuses an understanding of how landscape becomes intertwined with colonial narratives and scientific exploration. The figure at the lower-right corner is dwarfed by the scale of the landscape. This perspective encourages reflection on humanity's place within the natural world and the historical context of exploration and exploitation that marked Webber’s career. Ultimately, this watercolor captures both the beauty of the Welsh landscape and the complex layers of cultural and historical meaning embedded within it.