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This collection of watercolours illustrates views in north Wales. Ingleby's achievement is best seen in his little townscapes where his eye for detail often gives us unique records of urban life in the north. His pictures are characteristically evenly coloured in a light transparent watercolour.
John Ingleby (1749-1808)
John Ingleby was a native of Halkin in Flintshire. He was a topographical artist who specialised in producing small watercolour views which were ideal as illustrations for the antiquarian studies of Thomas Pennant (1726-1798). He died in 1808 in his home village and the church records note his profession as a limner. Limner was a title given to craftsmen who worked on a small scale, perhaps involved with miniatures, and denotes an artist craftsman established in his reputation.
Working for Thomas Pennant
Thomas Pennant, an energetic innovator, employed Ingleby on a commission basis to copy certain images. He worked mainly on small commissions such as copying coats of arms. There is documentary evidence testifying to Pennant appreciating Ingleby's artistic ability from 1780. However, at present, extant dated works begin in 1794 which was quite late in Pennant's career, and there may well be a quantity of early work yet to come into the care of public collections.
Ingleby was paid per drawing, a system which had been in place for employing craftsmen over many centuries. This was common practice amongst artists who worked on monuments, wall paintings and official documents and banners. The artist would be given a fee based upon the quantity of his work not the quality or subject. This stands as an interesting contrast to the terms of employment of his contemporary and colleague, Moses Griffith (1747-1819), who was also under the patronage of Pennant but was employed full-time as an artist and given considerable status and freedom.
Artist-craftsman
Ingleby was an example of an artist whose career was solely determined by the local population. He did not exhibit his work, but rather undertook the commissions as would a craftsman, completing the task according to instructions.
Further reading
- Paul Joyner. Artists in Wales c.1740-c.1851. Aberystwyth : National Library of Wales, 1997.
Landscapes
Aber Waterfall Reference: PD9084
Bryn Tyrion looking up ; Bryn Tyrion looking down, near Skiviog Reference: PD9086
Conway from above the Ferry Reference: PD9089
Conway, from the Talycafn road Reference: PD9090
Conway Castle from the e[ast] Reference: PD9091
View near Tal y cafn, looking towards Llanrwst Reference: PD9093
Bryn Euryn, & distant view of Penmon Rhos Reference: PD9097
View from Cefn Ucha Reference: PD9099
View near Cefn-ogo Reference: PD9100
Chirk Church, aquaduct & castle, Denbighshire Reference: PD9102
Part of the aquaduct at Chirk Reference: PD9103
View in Erddig grounds Reference: PD9107
Holt Bridge ; Farn., Holt Reference: PD9109
Tommen y Vardra & cave, Llanarmon Reference: PD9113
Inside of the cave, Llanarmon Reference: PD9114
Llangollen, Castle Dinas Bran Reference: PD9119
Llangollen, from ye Corwen road Reference: PD9120
View near Llangollen, Denbighshire Reference: PD9121
View of Llandysilio & Castell Dinas Brân Reference: PD9125
View on the River Dee near Llandysilio Reference: PD9126
Llyn-y-Pandy, or, The Black Valley Reference: PD9128
View from Llyn-y-pandy Reference: PD9129
View from the Loggerheads Reference: PD9130
Pistil-y-Rhaidr Reference: PD9132
Pistyl-y-Rhaidr Reference: PD9133
New bridge & aquaduct, Rhiwabon Reference: PD9136
Aquaduct near Rhiwabon, Denbighshire Reference: PD9137
South aspect of Caergwrle Castle Reference: PD9141
Moel y Gaer Reference: PD9146
Mold Reference: PD9147
The cotton factory near Mold Reference: PD9148
Pen-y-Vron Reference: PD9150
Hendom, or, the Mount of Owen Glendwr near Corwen on the Dee Reference: PD9154
Hengwst [sic.] Reference: PD9155
Llansanfraid Bridge, Glyndwrdwy Reference: PD9157
Stymlin Reference: PD9159
Abernavas church & hall Reference: PD9160
Abervechan Reference: PD9161
Abervechan Reference: PD9162
Berrew Reference: PD9163
Breydden Hills, Rodney's Pillar and Belin Mount Reference: PD9166
Breyden Hills from Llanymynach and Rodney's Pillar Reference: PD9167
Garth Reference: PD9170
Llanafryn Reference: PD9175
Llandinam and Gwernwr Hills Reference: PD9176
Llandreinio Reference: PD9178
Llandreinio Bridge and Rodney's Pillar Reference: PD9179
Llandysilio and Llanymynach rocks Reference: PD9181
Llanllwchuarn Reference: PD9185
Llanllwchuarn Reference: PD9186
Llanwynog near Newtown Reference: PD9188
Llwyn Reference: PD9189
Vale of Meivod Reference: PD9192
Moel-du-mawr Reference: PD9193
Trenewyd, or, New Town Reference: PD9197
Trenewydd, or, Newtown Hall Reference: PD9198
Powis Castle Reference: PD9202
Vaynor Reference: PD9204
Welch Pool Reference: PD9206
View of the River Dee with Eccleston Church and distant view of Chester Reference: PD9210
View in the footway between Eaton and Eccleston from the banks of the Dee Reference: PD9211
View from Eccleston Hill of Chester &c. Reference: PD9212
Lower Berwick Reference: PD9223
Blodwell Hall Reference: PD9226
Llanymynach Reference: PD9231
New bridge near Llanymynach over the Vyrnyw Reference: PD9232
Montford Reference: PD9235
Montford Bridge Reference: PD9236
Routon Reference: PD9240
View of the Severn & Isle of Up Rossal and distant view of Shrewsbury Reference: PD9241
View of the River Severn Reference: PD9242
Sh[r]awardine Reference: PD9243
View of Shrewsbury from the new bridge Reference: PD9244
View between Fittes & Shrewsbury Reference: PD9250
Buildings, Monuments and Churches
Lord Boston's the old front. Llanidan Church Reference: PD9083
Tower of Bryniau Reference: PD9085
Old chapel in Caernarvon town Reference: PD9087
Cefn Amwlch Reference: PD9088
The upper gate, Conway Reference: PD9092
Berse Chapel Reference: PD9094
Brombo House Reference: PD9095
Bryn Euryn Reference: PD9096
Cefn, a new house near Wrexham (belonging to Roger Kenyon Esq ?) Reference: PD9098
Chirk Reference: PD9101
Croesnewydd near Wrexham S.E. view property of Ellice Esq. Reference: PD9104
Ecclusham Above, the property of Ellames Esq. near Wrexham Reference: PD9105
Ecclusham Below Reference: PD9106
Plas Gronow Reference: PD9108
Kinmael Reference: PD9110
Kinmael Reference: PD9111
Old Kinmael Reference: PD9112
Llandrillo Church Reference: PD9115
Lland-Dyrnogh church and churchyard Reference: PD9116
Llangedwyn Reference: PD9117
Llangedwyn Reference: PD9118
Vron Ynys & Llangwifan Church ; Plas Llangwifan Reference: PD9122
Plas yn Llan and Llan Gynhafel Church ; Plas yn Rhos, property of Wynne Esq, near Ruthin Reference: PD9123
Llan-san-shore, or, Church of St. George and rectory Reference: PD9124
Maes y Coed ; Llan Bychan Church Reference: PD9127
Pentre Eychan Reference: PD9131
Plas yn Yale, seat of the Yale's Reference: PD9134
Rhiwabon Reference: PD9135
Sontly Reference: PD9138
Mount in Wrexham ; Mrs Yales in Mount Street Wrexham Reference: PD9139
Wynne Stay, seat of S[i]r Watkins Williams Wynne Reference: PD9140
[Althrey Hall] Reference: PD9141a
Mrs Williams monument Reference: PD9142 (front)
Mrs Williams monument Reference: PD9142 (back)
Crucifiction found in the wall of the old church at Halkin Reference: PD9143
Sir Thomas Hanmer's monument, Hanmer Chapel Reference: PD9144
Llai, near Hope Reference: PD9145
The stone under this arch called Carreg Carn March Arthur Reference: PD9149
Plas Mostyn Reference: PD9151
Effigy of a warrior Reference: PD9152
Harlech Castle from the town Reference: PD9153
Llansanfraid Glyndwrdwy Reference: PD9156
Prison of Owen Glendwr Reference: PD9158
Bettws Reference: PD9164
Mural brass of a priest in Bettws Church Reference: PD9165 (front)
Mural brass of a priest in Bettws Church (Inscription) Reference: PD9165 (back)
Bryn-Gwynn Reference: PD9168
Castell Caerenion Reference: PD9169
Gillesfield near Welch Pool Reference: PD9171
Limor Lodge Reference: PD9172
Limor Lodge Reference: PD9173
Limor Lodge east aspect Reference: PD9174
Llandinam Reference: PD9177
Llandreinio Hall Reference: PD9180
Llanvechan Reference: PD9182
Llangyniw Reference: PD9183
Llangynog Reference: PD9184
Llanrhaiadr-ym-Moch'nant Reference: PD9187
Llwydiarth Reference: PD9190
Meivod Reference: PD9191
Montgomery castle & church Reference: PD9194
Monument of Richard Herbert in Montgomery Church Reference: PD9195 (front)
Nantcribba Reference: PD9196
Park Reference: PD9199
St. Monacella, or, Pennant Melangel Church Reference: PD9200
Shrine of St. Monacella in Pennant Melangel Church Reference: PD9201
Powis Castle Reference: PD9203
Vaynor Reference: PD9205
Golden chalice in Welch Pool Church Reference: PD9207
Anchoritage in St. John's Church yard, Chester; Remains of the monastery in St John's Church yard. Reference: PD9208
Doddleston Church Reference: PD9209
Farn Reference: PD9213
Grafton Hall Reference: PD9214
Halton Reference: PD9215
Oldford, Cheshire Reference: PD9216
Willington Cross Reference: PD9217
The abbots house at Alberbury Reference: PD9218
Monument of Richard Lister Esq. of Routon Reference: PD9219 (front)
[Inscription on the monument of Richard Lister Esq. of Routon] Reference: PD9219 (back)
Monument of -- Lister Esq, of Routon Reference: PD9220 (front)
Aston Reference: PD9221
Upper Berwick Reference: PD9222
Chapel at Lower Berwick Reference: PD9224
Birch Reference: PD9225
Chirbury Reference: PD9227
Chirton Hall Reference: PD9228
Dintle Reference: PD9229
Dongay Reference: PD9230
Loton Hall Reference: PD9233
Loton Hall Reference: PD9234
Onslo Reference: PD9237
Park Reference: PD9238
Red Hall Reference: PD9239
Town Hall Shrewsbury and the Old Market House Reference: PD9245
New goal at Shrewsbury Reference: PD9246
St. Chad's new church, Shrewsbury Reference: PD9247
Monument of Richard Onslow in old St. Chad's Church Reference: PD9248
Sepulchral stones Reference: PD9249
Wattleburgh Castle Reference: PD9251
Whittington church and castle Reference: PD9252
Statue of a boy from Herculaneum Reference: PD9253
Monument of Richard Herbert in Montgomery Church Reference: PD9195 (back)