Valerius de Saedeleer

Mr and Mrs J Herbert Edwards, Cranham (gifted by the artist in return for free accommodation at Mr. Edwards' property in Ponterwyd beside the River Rheidol; Mr Edwards was an electrical engineer who developed and installed hydro electric schemes on the River Rheidol and the Castell stream. His main role was bringing electric services to Bath, Stroud and elsewhere. During the First World War, he was recognised for his service to National Savings and was awarded the O.B.E.)

Thence by descent to the present owner

Valerius de Saedeleer and his family fled Belgium following the German invasion at the outbreak of the First World War, settling in Ceredigion until their return in 1920. A newspaper clipping on the reverse of this work records an exhibition held at the School of Art Gallery and Museum at Alexandra Hall on the Aberystwyth seafront in 1916. Works shown included Solitude in Cardiganshire, Evening in Cardiganshire, The Rheidol Valley, alongside landscapes painted in remembrance of Flanders.

De Saedeleer’s landscapes are notably devoid of figures, seeking instead to capture the essence of nature. He was particularly drawn to winter and the effects of snow - how it quietens, conceals, and protects the land. The muted tones and haunting stillness of this work are characteristic of his style.