William Stott masterpiece comes to St Davids,

Pembrokeshire

Oriel y Parc gallery first stop on Tate tour

A painting regarded as the crowning achievement of William Stott of Oldham

(1857-1900) is the centrepiece of a new exhibition at Oriel y Parc Gallery and

Visitor Centre in St Davids from 24 February to 2 September 2018.

Le Passeur (The Ferryman) 1881, which is being displayed as part of a tour of UK

galleries in partnership with Tate, has been secured for the British public thanks to

funding from National Lottery players through the Heritage Lottery Fund, Art Fund

(with a contribution from The Wolfson Foundation) and The Hintze Family Charitable

Foundation.

Le Passeur (The Ferryman) 1881, William Stott of Oldham (1857–1900). Photo © Tate.

Purchased with funds provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Art Fund (with a contribution

from The Wolfson Foundation) and The Hintze Family Charitable Foundation 2016.

The painting is considered one of the key moments in the breakthrough of British Art

to naturalism. It established Stott as one of the most progressive British artists of his

day.

Le Passeur will be one of three works from Tate’s collections to be shown at Oriel y

Parc, with a watercolour of St David’s Head by J.M.W. Turner also on display to

commemorate the Year of the Sea in Wales.

These will be exhibited alongside paintings from the collections of Amgueddfa

Cymru-National Museum Wales, which have been chosen to explore some of the

hidden meanings behind images of rural life and landscape.

These will include The Goose Girl at Gruchy by Jean-François Millet (1814-1875),

one of the most notable French Realists of the 19th century.

William Stott was a leading figure in the group of British artists who came under the

influence of French naturalism in the late nineteenth century. After Manchester

School of Art, he trained in Paris under Bonnat and Gérôme and went on to exhibit a

number of paintings at the Paris Salon, which were much admired by French critics.

There are 23 paintings in British public collections by Stott, the majority of which are

in Gallery Oldham, the artist’s home town. This work joins one other in Tate’s

collection by Stott, Prince or Shepherd? (Prince ou Berger?) 1880, which will also be

exhibited at Oriel y Parc.

The display at Oriel y Parc is part of a tour of four UK-partner galleries, thanks to

funding from National Lottery players through the Heritage Lottery Fund, the John

Ellerman Foundation and Art Fund. The work will also be exhibited at Southampton

City Art Gallery, Gallery Oldham and Aberdeen Art Gallery.

Chair of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, Gwyneth Hayward said: “It is

a privilege to once again be a partner in a project with Tate, following on from the

great success of the John Constable: Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows 1831

exhibition, which was viewed by more than 30,000 people in St Davids in 2016.

“As Oriel y Parc celebrates its tenth anniversary this year we are delighted to be

hosting such a significant exhibition, which represents the only opportunity to see the

painting in Wales.

“We hope local people and visitors alike will take this rare opportunity to view

another masterpiece of British art in Pembrokeshire and be inspired to explore the

National Park’s world-class landscape, which has inspired so many artists over the

centuries.”

David Anderson, Director General of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales,

said: "We are delighted to be working with Tate as part of the national partnership

programme. These works will be complemented by paintings from the collections of

Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales exploring rural life.

“There will also be a special programme of learning activities and resources to

support the display at Oriel y Parc which will encourage audiences to learn more

about the work of William Stott and the story of British Impressionism.”

Alex Farquharson, Director, Tate Britain said, “ We are thrilled that Le Passeur is

starting out on its two-year journey with its first stop in St Davids, Pembrokeshire,

where it will join a particularly beautiful watercolour by Turner. We are delighted that

Stott’s outstanding work will be seen by the many visitors to Oriel y Parc.”

Oriel y Parc Gallery and Visitor Centre is owned and run by Pembrokeshire Coast

National Park Authority and is the home of Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum

Wales in Pembrokeshire.

The exhibition titled William Stott, Le Passeur (The Ferryman): Reflections on a

landscape will be on display at Oriel y Parc from 24 February to 2 September

2018

For more information on the exhibition and related events visit

www.orielyparc.co.uk/lepasseur.