Welsh Journals

'Lands End and Long Ship Lighthouse by Thomas Masters Dalton, 1894. It is unclear what precipitated a move to Surrey, but in 1889 the family is listed as residing at 'Pareora' in Guildford. Thomas Masters was by this time aged 60, and presumably had retired from legal practice in South Wales. The 1891 census describes Thomas Masters, his wife Emily, Ada and Bertha living at what was obviously a large and important house with four servants. There is no evidence that he resided here from directories dated 1887 and 1895, so we can surmise that by the latter date Thomas Masters-Dalton and family had moved on. In Thomas's later years he had apparently developed a keen interest in art. This culminated in 1889 when he was successful in gaining entry to exhibitions at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists and the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. The scenes exhibited include coastal scenes of Glamorganshire and Cornwall, selling for approxi- mately ten guineas, which proves that their quality could demand a respectable price. Naturally Thomas Masters himself would not have been in any way dependent on this income and was by this time living 'offhis means', as described in the census of 1891. He evidently continued to paint in oils, showing an accomplished technique and admirable understanding in his expression of the sea. An example entitled 'Lands End and Long Ship Lighthouse', signed and dated 1894, portrays a scene of ragged cliffs, embattled gulls and a lighthouse buffeted by heavy wind and spray. Thomas Masters Dalton had therefore achieved considerable success both in a notable legal career and also as that of a coastal artist in oils. It is likely that he was not a prolific artist, and to come across works by the artist is therefore something of a rare event. The scene of Lands End may have been one of his last works as he is recorded as having died in 1896. The author wishes to thank Marilyn Jones, of the Swansea Central Public Library, for help in preparing this article.