Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 112 works by Christopher Williams in our catalogue
In short
To the gallery's eye, Christopher Williams's most famous painting is The Awakening of Wales (1911), whose original hangs in the Caernarfon Royal Town Council, Carnarvon. Sir Henry Rudolf Reichel (1856–1931), First Principal (1884–1927) (1926) and Sunset in the Welsh Hills (1920) complete the trio every eye recognises. Of the 112 works by Christopher Williams in our catalog, the gallery presents the 100 most famous below, each original with its year, its museum and what makes it unique.
"The Awakening of Wales," painted in 1911 by Christopher Williams, is more than just a depiction of a woman dancing; it’s a potent embodiment of Welsh identity and the burgeoning cultural revival of its time. Measuring 272 x 130 cm, this oil on canvas work, currently residing within the Caernarfon Royal Town Council collection, pulsates with an energy born from both Romantic ideals and a deep connection to the nation’s…
Sir Henry Rudolf Reichel (1856–1931), First Principal (1884–1927): A Portrait of Visionary Leadership Christopher Williams’s *Sir Henry Rudolf Reichel* is more than just a depiction of a man; it's an encapsulation of ambition, intellect, and the quiet dignity of service—qualities that define both the subject and Williams’s artistic vision. Executed in 1926, during Reichel’s tenure as Principal of Bangor University, the painting transcends mere likeness, immersing viewers in a carefully…
The light begins to fade over the landscape in Sunset in the Welsh Hills, a work painted by Christopher Williams in 1920. This scene captures a moment where the sun retreats behind the mountain peaks, casting a warm glow across the terrain. The hills stretch toward the horizon, their silhouettes defined by the changing light of the evening. It is a quiet observation of the Welsh landscape, frozen in a…
In the evocative portrait Ceridwen, the late Victorian master Christopher Williams invites us into a realm where myth and reality converge. The painting presents a profound moment of introspection, centered on a woman draped in vibrant, crimson attire that commands the viewer's immediate attention. Seated amidst a rugged, primordial landscape of weathered rocks, she rests her chin upon her hands, her gaze lost in a deep, contemplative trance. This is…
The air in the room feels heavy with the weight of quiet thought. Thomas Francis Roberts sits motionless, his presence commanding the space through a stillness that feels almost physical. He is draped in deep crimson academic robes, a color so intense it seems to pulse against the muted, earthy tones of the private study. His hands are clasped in his lap, fingers interlaced in a gesture of composed reflection.…
The room feels heavy with the weight of a life lived in quiet contemplation. An elderly man sits anchored in the center of the frame, his presence commanding the space through a stillness that seems to vibrate with unspoken history. He is a figure of substance, draped in dark, heavy fabrics that absorb the light, leaving only the textures of his beard and the weathered lines of his face to…
In Reverend J Thomas by Christopher Williams, the subject is captured in a three-quarter length portrait, seated slightly off-center within the embrace of an ornate wooden chair. The composition rests at eye-level, establishing a direct and respectful connection with the viewer. His posture remains composed and steady, a quiet anchor amidst the shadows. The arrangement of the figure suggests a moment of stillness, held within the heavy grain of the…
A single figure dominates this vertical oil composition, positioned slightly off-center to suggest a quiet, arrested movement. The subject, a woman draped in a voluminous white gown, occupies an opulent interior where the background dissolves into blurred architectural details and heavy drapery. Warm earthy tones of ochre, beige, and muted brown establish a somber, grounded atmosphere. Light enters from a singular source, casting deep shadows that define the contours of…
A formal three-quarter length portrait of Colonel Sir Thomas Berry Cusack-Smith, depicted in the twilight of his life. Seated in an ornate chair, the subject is positioned slightly off-center, creating a balanced composition that emphasizes his dignified presence. He is rendered in full military attire, complete with medals and a Sam Browne belt, which anchor the figure within a tradition of service and duty. The lighting, originating from the upper…
The portrait depicts an elderly man seated within a room defined by dark wooden paneling and draped red fabric. He is positioned centrally, occupying much of the frame. The subject wears heavy, dark robes that fall in deep folds around his torso. His hands rest upon a book held in his lap. Light enters from the upper left, casting shadows across the contours of his face and the textures of…
Roland Williams (Hwfa Môn) (1823–1905)1905 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
12
Cader Idris1913 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
13
Sunset Glow on Cader Idris1920 · Aberystwyth University School of Art Museum And Galleries
14
Llangrannog1915 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
15
Tangiers1914 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
16
Sir John Williams (1840–1926), Bt, GCVO, MD1919 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
17
Borth y Gest1913 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
18
Model 105M R59C, Keystone Shower Door, 57.4 × 59 , Chrome Raindrop, SKU 109149, 96235. 970 084 000, (Meiko), Vancouver, B.C., April 6, 2005 (No. 1)2005
19
Barmouth1910 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
20
Llwyngwril, Near Barmouth
21
Sir Henry Jones (1852–1922), MA, LLD, Professor of Philosophy (1884–1891)1920 · Bangor University
22
Cader Idris and Bird Rock1913 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
23
Paolo and Francesca1902
24
Dame Margaret Lloyd George (1866–1941)1921 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
25
Holidays, Village Girls at Llangrannog1915 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
26
Thomas Henry Thomas (1834–1915)1902
27
Mr Evan Williams, the Artist's Father1903
28
The Aldobrandini Wedding1904 · Aberystwyth University School of Art Museum And Galleries
29
Alice Sophia Amelia Stopford Green (1847–1929)1899
30
Mrs Parry Jones1900 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
31
Reverend W. E. Prydderch (1846–1931)1900 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
32
Self PortraitNational Library of Wales
33
Lloyd George as Chancellor of the Exchequer
34
Dryslwyn Castle1910
35
Evening Glow, Venice
36
The Remorse of Judas1911
37
Judas the Iscariot And It Was Night1906 · Aberystwyth University School of Art Museum And Galleries
38
Mrs Elizabeth Poole Hughes1910 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
39
The Investiture of the Prince of Wales, 19111911 · Caernarfon Royal Town Council
40
The Artist's Son, Ivor (1908–1982)Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
41
David Lloyd George (1863–1945)1917
42
Storm over Cader Idris1917
43
On the Barmouth Estuary1917
44
Old Barmouth1917
45
Sir John Rhys (1840–1915)1913
46
Llangranog, a Fresh Morning1917
47
Colour Study for the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior1916 · Aberystwyth University School of Art Museum And Galleries
48
Street Scene in Tangiers1914
49
Criccieth Castle1917
50
The Red Dress1917
51
The Snowdon Horseshoe1913 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
52
'Now I'm the Judge', Gwyn Williams, the Artist's Son1912
53
Dyffwys1917 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
54
A Coastal View Porth y Nant, Lleyn1912 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
55
The Welsh Division at Mametz Wood, 1916 (detail)1917 · Royal Welch Fusiliers Regimental Museum
56
Hero and Leander1915
57
Barmouth Moonlight1913 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
58
Borth y Gest, Evening1913 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
59
Barmouth Evening1913 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
60
Dyffwys, North Wales1920
61
Mametz Wood (sketch)1920
62
Reflections, Venice1921 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
63
Professor Sir Henry Jones (1852–1922)1923
64
Venice, Moonlight1925
65
The Cader Idris Range1930 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
66
Sunset from Barmouth1913 · Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales
67
Reverend Thomas Shankland (1858–1927), Welsh Librarian, University College of North Wales (1904–1913), Librarian of the Arts Library (1913–1926)1923 · Bangor University
68
Rachel2020 · Paintings in Hospitals
69
Study for 'A Garden by the Sea', William Morris1906 · Aberystwyth University School of Art Museum And Galleries
70
Untitled (Kunsthalle Zürich (Opening), Switzerland, 2007)2007
71
Untitled (Sammlung Haubrok, Berlin, Germany, 2007)2007
72
Bergische Bauernscheune, Junkersholz, Leichlingen, September 29th, 20092010
73
Barmouth Estuary1914
74
View from Arthog
75
Coast near Holyhead
76
Richard Lloyd
77
Criccieth Castle
78
Up the Barmouth Estuary
79
John Hinds, Esq. (1862–1928)
80
Near Merthyr Mawr
81
Sunset off the Lleyn Peninsula
82
Santa Maria della Salute, Venice
83
Family on Barmouth Island
84
Cader Idris
85
Owen Owen (1850–1920)
86
In North Wales
87
Barmouth Beach
88
Branwen
89
Cregennan Lake by Moonlight
90
Mountainous Landscape with Trees in the Foreground (Merthyr Mawr)
91
Sir John Morris Jones (1864–1929), SeatedBangor University
92
A Fresh Morning, Llangranog
93
Mountains, Seen from a River over Trees (Merthyr Mawr)
94
Evening Cardigan Bay
95
The Ligurian Coast from Rapallo
96
Sunlit Arch, Santa Margherita
97
David Lloyd George (1863–1945)
98
Atalanta
99
Laugharne Castle, Carmarthenshire
100
Mrs Sackvill Evans
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Christopher Williams | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales |
Aberystwyth | 25 | Roland Williams (Hwfa Môn) (1823–1905), Cader Idris, Llangrannog |
 Aberystwyth University School of Art Museum And Galleries |
Aberystwyth | 6 | Thomas Francis Roberts (1860–1919), Principal (1891–1919), Sunset Glow on Cader Idris, The Aldobrandini Wedding |
 Bangor University |
Bangor | 4 | Sir Henry Rudolf Reichel (1856–1931), First Principal (1884–1927), Sir Henry Jones (1852–1922), MA, LLD, Professor of Philosophy (1884–1891), Reverend Thomas Shankland (1858–1927), Welsh Librarian, University College of North Wales (1904–1913), Librarian of the Arts Library (1913–1926) |
 Caernarfon Royal Town Council |
Carnarvon | 2 | The Awakening of Wales, The Investiture of the Prince of Wales, 1911 |
 National Library of Wales |
Aberystwyth | 2 | Reverend J Thomas, Self Portrait |
 Glynn Vivian Art Gallery |
Swansea | 1 | Ceridwen |
 National Gallery of Ireland |
Dublin City | 1 | Portrait of Colonel Sir Thomas Berry Cusack-Smith, 5th Bt (1859-1929) |
 Royal Welch Fusiliers Regimental Museum |
Carnarvon | 1 | The Welsh Division at Mametz Wood, 1916 (detail) |
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
The room feels heavy with the weight of a life lived in quiet contemplation. An elderly man sits anchored in the center of the frame, his presence commanding the space through a stillness that seems to vibrate with unspoken history. He is a figure of substance, draped in dark, heavy fabrics that absorb the light, leaving only the textures of his beard and the weathered lines of his face to…
"The Awakening of Wales," painted in 1911 by Christopher Williams, is more than just a depiction of a woman dancing; it’s a potent embodiment of Welsh identity and the burgeoning cultural revival of its time. Measuring 272 x 130 cm, this oil on canvas work, currently residing within the Caernarfon Royal Town Council collection, pulsates with an energy born from both Romantic ideals and a deep connection to the nation’s…
Sir Henry Rudolf Reichel (1856–1931), First Principal (1884–1927): A Portrait of Visionary Leadership Christopher Williams’s *Sir Henry Rudolf Reichel* is more than just a depiction of a man; it's an encapsulation of ambition, intellect, and the quiet dignity of service—qualities that define both the subject and Williams’s artistic vision. Executed in 1926, during Reichel’s tenure as Principal of Bangor University, the painting transcends mere likeness, immersing viewers in a carefully…
The Awakening of Wales (1911), Caernarfon Royal Town Council, Carnarvon. Sir Henry Rudolf Reichel (1856–1931), First Principal (1884–1927) (1926) and Sunset in the Welsh Hills (1920) come next.
38 years old: The Awakening of Wales dates from 1911, and Christopher Williams was born in 1873.
The Awakening of Wales, Sir Henry Rudolf Reichel (1856–1931), First Principal (1884–1927), Sunset in the Welsh Hills, Ceridwen, Thomas Francis Roberts (1860–1919), Principal (1891–1919), Richard Lloyd (1834–1917), Reverend J Thomas, Helen, Portrait of Colonel Sir Thomas Berry Cusack-Smith, 5th Bt (1859-1929) and Sir John Morris Jones (1864–1929). The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
Our catalog holds 112 works by Christopher Williams, dated from 1899 to 1930.
Mostly in Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales (Aberystwyth), Aberystwyth University School of Art Museum And Galleries (Aberystwyth) and Bangor University (Bangor). The museum table above lists them all.
In 1910s: 36 of the 100 works on this page were made then, The Awakening of Wales among them.
On this page, the earliest is Alice Sophia Amelia Stopford Green (1847–1929) (1899) and the latest The Cader Idris Range (1930).
Portrait (9), Landscape (8) and Mountains (5), across the 100 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas, for 22 of the 100 works on this page.
Celtic revival, judging by the originals on this page.
Roland Williams (Hwfa Môn) (1823–1905), Cader Idris and Llangrannog: the Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth holds 23 of the works on this page.
Christopher David Williams (1873-1934) was a celebrated Welsh artist whose career spanned the late Victorian and early 20th centuries. He is particularly remembered for his evocative portraits, allegorical scenes, and landscapes that often reflected a strong sense of Welsh identity and the spirit of the Celtic Revival.
Born in Maesygwrath, Wales, Williams initially faced opposition from his father, Evan Williams, who envisioned a medical career for him. However, a transformative visit to the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool in 1892, where he was deeply moved by Frederick Leighton’s *Perseus and Andromeda*, ignited his passion for art. This experience solidified his determination to pursue a life as an artist.
Williams’s work is characterized by:
Christopher Williams played a significant role in promoting Welsh art and culture during his lifetime. He actively participated in the National Eisteddfod as an adjudicator and served on committees for the National Museum of Wales and the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion. His work reflects a strong sense of national identity and contributed to the artistic flourishing of Wales in the early 20th century.
His paintings are held in numerous public collections, including the National Museum of Wales, the Royal Collection, and the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, ensuring his legacy continues to inspire and captivate audiences today. He was a brother-in-law to fellow artist Fred Appleyard, and father to astronomer Evan Gwyn Williams and artist Ivor Williams.
