Francis Crawshay's Workers



 ‘Thomas Euston, Lodge Keeper, Hirwaun’

The first of the following links shows all of the naive paintings which Francis Crawshay commissioned of his workers.  They range from quarrymen to farm workers with the tools of their trade.  These paintings were originally hung in his offices, but now form part of the National Museum's Permanent Collection.  Francis Crawshay felt a link with his workers and learnt welsh to help create a relationship with them.

Portraits of domestic servants were quite common, but these paintings by William Jones Chapman are believed to be the only ones in existence of industrial workers of the time (between 1835-40). 

John Llewellyn, foreman of Treforest Tinplate Works

The paintings were donated by a descendant of Francis Crawshay and entry into this summer-long exhibition "Crawshay's Portraits" is free at the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-23246083

http://www.newwelshreview.com/article.php?id=549

http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/2255/

http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/francis_crawshay_photographs.htm