This image of Llandeilo was made during, or directly after, Turner's 1795 tour through South Wales and was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1796. As a sumptuous evocation of evening light it represents the climax of the 1795 tour. Its depiction of the castle (shown much closer than in reality) against a brilliant low sun anticipates Turner's later pre-occupation with light effects. The rich colouring probably relates to his experiments in oil, and foreshadows by two or three years the palette of his full scale 'sublime' subjects. The recent conservation of this watercolour has uncovered the existence of a second image, pasted face-up, to its reverse. Text by: Department of Art, National Museums & Galleries of Wales

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