Beddgelert Mill and Bridge 1810

David Cox created ‘Beddgelert Mill and Bridge’ in watercolor, likely sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The image presents the rugged landscape of North Wales, an area coming to be appreciated for its sublime scenery. Cox was among the generation of artists for whom the Welsh landscape offered an alternative to both the classical Italianate style and the urban-industrial subjects then dominating British art. At this time, art institutions were still being consolidated in London and other major cities. So artists who favored rural subjects, like Cox, often existed at something of a remove from the established art world. Here we see a mode of art-making that resists the demands of the establishment. Instead, it reflects a particular image of the British countryside as timeless, unspoiled, and separate. For the art historian, understanding this image requires looking at the social forces that shape artistic production. We can do this by studying the period’s art criticism, exhibition histories, and artists’ biographies.