The iconic circular keep of Dolbadarn Castle stands at the centre of this painting by Richard Wilson, the most influential historic artist to come from Wales. Dolbadarn was probably built in the 13th century by Llywelyn the Great. Overlooking Llyn Padarn, it was an important stronghold in Gwynedd. By 1283 it had been seized by the English army, and its timber pillaged for the construction of Caernarfon Castle nearby. Dolbadarn later played a part in the fight for Welsh independence during Owain Glyndŵr’s rebellion, and stands today as a reminder of the trials and achievements of our native princes. During the 1750s, Wilson travelled to Italy, an experience which transformed his work. Although clearly a Welsh landscape, with Snowdon in the background, here Wilson has introduced Italianate features, like the farmstead. He has altered the features of the landscape to suggest a classical composition in the manner of Italian old masters. In doing so, he gives the scene a sense of gravity and importance, which helped to elevate the status of the Welsh landscape in cultural circles. Wilson painted Dolbadarn several times, and this composition probably dates from 1764/5. X-rays reveal the castle has been painted over a portrait of a woman.