Welsh Journals

WILLIAM BUTLER, ARTIST: 1824-1870 BERNARD MORRIS The Swansea Museum possesses a fine collection of early nineteenth century topographical drawings and paintings, showing scenes in and around Swansea most of which have since changed entirely in their appearance. These are often the only surviving contemporary record of their subjects and they are of great value in the study of local history. Before the advent of photography, which for Swansea scenes is the mid 1840s, the artists' record is the only visual evidence available and this remains almost as true for several decades afterwards. Until the 1870s photographs of local scenes are by no means common and the record value of local artists' work from that period remains high. There were many artists working in the Swansea area in the nineteenth century and although not all of them signed their work, among those who did the name or initials of William Butler appear most frequently in the Museum's collection. "Swansea Castle from the East-W. Butler Decr. 1843". Swansea Museum (Photo: Bernard Morris)