Curations

20th Century spotlight: Cyfarthfa Castle and the Merthyr Tydfil Collection

David Saywell, Head of Digital Assets

Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

Cyfarthfa Castle was built by the wealthy Crawshay family to overlook their hugely successful Cyfarthfa Ironworks. When the family fortune declined, they sold the building to Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council in 1908. The museum opened in 1910, and its collection of 20th Century artworks has built up steadily over 100 years, mainly thanks to the support of the Contemporary Art Society and the Contemporary Art Society for Wales. Developed in association with Grant Waters, Art Detective Group Leader: South East England, East England and the Midlands.

Artists featured in this Curation: Rudolf Ihlee (1883–1968), Keith Baynes (1887–1977), John Bowen (1914–2006), Frank Spencer Curtis Budgen (1882–1971), Brenda Chamberlain (1912–1971), Barnett Freedman (1901–1958), Ethel Léontine Gabain (1883–1950), Esther Grainger (1912–1990), Laura Sylvia Gosse (1881–1968), Duncan Grant (1885–1978), and 22 more
32 artworks
Storyline Album Showcase

  • Rudolf Ihlee (1883–1968)

    Little Bay – Audierne c.1923
    Rudolf Ihlee (1883–1968)
    Oil on canvas
    H 36.4 x W 43.7 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Little Bay – Audierne
    © the copyright holder. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Keith Baynes (1887–1977)

    Vernet Rousillon 1954
    Keith Baynes (1887–1977)
    Oil on canvas
    H 59 x W 49 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Vernet Rousillon
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • John Bowen (1914–2006)

    Still Life with Lemons 1956
    John Bowen (1914–2006)
    Oil on canvas
    H 111 x W 96 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Still Life with Lemons
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Frank Spencer Curtis Budgen (1882–1971)

    Trees 1930s
    Frank Spencer Curtis Budgen (1882–1971)
    Oil on canvas
    H 70 x W 82 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Trees
    © the copyright holder. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Brenda Chamberlain (1912–1971)

    Children on the Seashore 1950
    Brenda Chamberlain (1912–1971)
    Oil on canvas
    H 88 x W 100 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Children on the Seashore
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Barnett Freedman (1901–1958)

    Kitchen Interior
    Barnett Freedman (1901–1958)
    Oil on canvas
    H 33.5 x W 42.2 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Kitchen Interior
    © V. C. Freedman and descendants. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Ethel Léontine Gabain (1883–1950)

    Sunburnt Nymph 1930s
    Ethel Léontine Gabain (1883–1950)
    Oil on canvas
    H 44 x W 34 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Sunburnt Nymph
    Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Esther Grainger (1912–1990)

    Sunflower Tops c.1950
    Esther Grainger (1912–1990)
    Oil on canvas
    H 60 x W 90.3 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Sunflower Tops
    © the copyright holder. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Laura Sylvia Gosse (1881–1968)

    La Rue de L'Oranger, Dieppe
    Laura Sylvia Gosse (1881–1968)
    Oil on canvas
    H 55 x W 34.5 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    La Rue de L'Oranger, Dieppe
    © the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Duncan Grant (1885–1978)

    Onions 1942 (?)
    Duncan Grant (1885–1978)
    Oil on canvas
    H 35 x W 28.7 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Onions
    © Estate of Duncan Grant. All rights reserved, DACS 2025. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Hanmer Griffith (1880–1969)

    Ynyscedwyn Colliery
    Hanmer Griffith (1880–1969)
    Oil on board
    H 26.1 x W 36.7 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Ynyscedwyn Colliery
    © the copyright holder. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Alvaro Guevara (1894–1951)

    South American Boy
    Alvaro Guevara (1894–1951)
    Oil on canvas
    H 41.5 x W 33 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    South American Boy
    Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Harold Charles Harvey (1874–1941)

    At the Dressing Table 1920
    Harold Charles Harvey (1874–1941)
    Oil on canvas
    H 39 x W 50 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    At the Dressing Table
    Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Alfred Janes (1911–1999)

    Salome 1938
    Alfred Janes (1911–1999)
    Oil on canvas
    H 78 x W 62 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Salome
    © the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Heinz Koppel (1919–1980)

    Liverpool Pier Head
    Heinz Koppel (1919–1980)
    Oil on canvas
    H 154 x W 247 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Liverpool Pier Head
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Harold Knight (1874–1961)

    W. H. Davies (1871–1940), in Cornwall 1916
    Harold Knight (1874–1961)
    Oil on canvas
    H 60 x W 49.5 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    W. H. Davies (1871–1940), in Cornwall
    © reproduced with permission of the estate of Dame Laura Knight, DBE, RA / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Henry Lamb (1883–1960)

    Over the Garden Wall
    Henry Lamb (1883–1960)
    Oil on canvas
    H 34 x W 39.5 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Over the Garden Wall
    © estate of Henry Lamb / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Edward Morland Lewis (1903–1943)

    The Sitting Room
    Edward Morland Lewis (1903–1943)
    Oil on canvas
    H 25.3 x W 21.4 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    The Sitting Room
    Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Eric James Malthouse (1914–1997)

    A Flurry of Pigeons 1953
    Eric James Malthouse (1914–1997)
    Oil on board
    H 123 x W 151 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    A Flurry of Pigeons
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Cedric Lockwood Morris (1889–1982)

    Caeharris Post Office from Gwernlwyn House 1935
    Cedric Lockwood Morris (1889–1982)
    Oil on canvas
    H 62 x W 75 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Caeharris Post Office from Gwernlwyn House
    © trustees of the Cedric Lockwood Morris Estate/Foundation / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • George Murray (1875–1933)

    Spanish Landscape
    George Murray (1875–1933)
    Oil on board
    H 26 x W 35 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Spanish Landscape
    Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Winifred Nicholson (1893–1981)

    On the Road to Port Ligat
    Winifred Nicholson (1893–1981)
    Oil on canvas
    H 58.8 x W 99 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    On the Road to Port Ligat
    © Trustees of Winifred Nicholson. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Angus Menmuir Neil (1924–1992)

    Boy in Cap
    Angus Menmuir Neil (1924–1992)
    Oil on board
    H 37.4 x W 32 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Boy in Cap
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Mary Potter (1900–1981)

    Still Life c.1945
    Mary Potter (1900–1981)
    Oil on canvas
    H 62.5 x W 75.5 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Still Life
    © estate of Mary Potter. All rights reserved, DACS 2025. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Shani Rhys James (b.1953)

    Eillio yn y bore (The Morning Shave) 1995
    Shani Rhys James (b.1953)
    Oil on canvas
    H 173 x W 229 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Eillio yn y bore (The Morning Shave)
    © Shani Rhys James. All rights reserved, DACS 2025. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Will Roberts (1907–2000)

    Bideford Bridge
    Will Roberts (1907–2000)
    Oil on hardboard
    H 73 x W 99 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Bideford Bridge
    © Will Roberts' estate. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • William Roberts (1895–1980)

    John Roberts 1930
    William Patrick Roberts (1895–1980)
    Oil on canvas
    H 49 x W 38 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    John Roberts
    © estate of John David Roberts. By courtesy of The William Roberts Society. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)

    The Tea Table early 1940s
    Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
    Oil on canvas
    H 63 x W 43 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    The Tea Table
    © the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Leonard Campbell Taylor (1874–1969)

    Intermezzo exhibited 1958
    Leonard Campbell Taylor (1874–1969)
    Oil on canvas
    H 54.7 x W 67.5 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Intermezzo
    © the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Ivor Williams (1908–1982)

    Portrait of an Unknown Woman
    Ivor Williams (1908–1982)
    Oil on canvas
    H 58.8 x W 48.8 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Portrait of an Unknown Woman
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Kyffin Williams (1918–2006)

    Mountain Landscape 1957
    Kyffin Williams (1918–2006)
    Oil on canvas
    H 44.5 x W 55 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    Mountain Landscape
    © Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

  • Jack Butler Yeats (1871–1957)

    The Hackney Car 1925
    Jack Butler Yeats (1871–1957)
    Oil on canvas
    H 22 x W 35.5 cm
    Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
    The Hackney Car
    © estate of Jack B. Yeats. All rights reserved, DACS 2025. Image credit: Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

Explore artists in this Curation

View all 32
  • Dame Edith Sitwell
    Alvaro Guevara (1894–1951)
  • Carmarthen Bay
    Edward Morland Lewis (1903–1943)
  • In the Baltic
    Keith Baynes (1887–1977)
  • Trees
    Frank Spencer Curtis Budgen (1882–1971)
  • Ynyscedwyn Colliery
    Hanmer Griffith (1880–1969)
  • Woman with a Red Necktie
    Ivor Williams (1908–1982)
  • Salome
    Alfred Janes (1911–1999)
  • Sunburnt Nymph
    Ethel Léontine Gabain (1883–1950)
  • The Printer
    Laura Sylvia Gosse (1881–1968)
  • Restaurant Car
    Leonard Campbell Taylor (1874–1969)
  • View all 32
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