A rare and historically significant Welsh School oil on canvas portrait, depicting the two children of Mr and Mrs Oliver Jones of Fonmon Castle, Glamorgan.
The full-length composition shows one child dressed in blue and the other in red, holding a bow and a spear — symbols of youthful strength and aristocratic upbringing.
Unframed, the canvas measures 126.2 × 102 cm, and with its frame, 130.5 × 107.4 cm. This portrait forms part of the cultural legacy of Fonmon Castle, a historic seat of the Jones family, later descending to the Boothby family.
Provenance
By descent in the Jones family, Fonmon Castle, Glamorgan
Thence by descent in the Boothby family at Fonmon Castle, Glamorgan
Thence to the present owner
Historical Context — Fonmon Castle
Fonmon Castle was first constructed in 1180 by the St John family and later passed to the Jones family in 1658 when Colonel Philip Jones, one of the wealthiest men in Wales, purchased the estate.
Over the centuries, Fonmon became a cultural and political hub, frequented by notable figures such as Charles and John Wesley. The castle’s rich history includes:
its use as a stronghold during the English Civil War,
extensive Rococo-style renovations in the 18th century,
and its later transformation into a celebrated social venue.
This portrait is a rare surviving piece directly linked to the Jones lineage, reinforcing the heritage and legacy of one of Wales’s most historic castles.
Dimensions
Unframed: 126.2 × 102 cm
Framed: 130.5 × 107.4 cm
Weight: approx. 5 kg
Condition Report
Painting: Natural age-related crackling across the canvas, with minor blemishes visible in places.
Frame: Some wear consistent with age.
Overall: Good antique condition, structurally sound.
A rare and historically significant Welsh School oil on canvas portrait, depicting the two children of Mr and Mrs Oliver Jones of Fonmon Castle, Glamorgan.
The full-length composition shows one child dressed in blue and the other in red, holding a bow and a spear — symbols of youthful strength and aristocratic upbringing.
Unframed, the canvas measures 126.2 × 102 cm, and with its frame, 130.5 × 107.4 cm. This portrait forms part of the cultural legacy of Fonmon Castle, a historic seat of the Jones family, later descending to the Boothby family.
Provenance
By descent in the Jones family, Fonmon Castle, Glamorgan
Thence by descent in the Boothby family at Fonmon Castle, Glamorgan
Thence to the present owner
Historical Context — Fonmon Castle
Fonmon Castle was first constructed in 1180 by the St John family and later passed to the Jones family in 1658 when Colonel Philip Jones, one of the wealthiest men in Wales, purchased the estate.
Over the centuries, Fonmon became a cultural and political hub, frequented by notable figures such as Charles and John Wesley. The castle’s rich history includes:
its use as a stronghold during the English Civil War,
extensive Rococo-style renovations in the 18th century,
and its later transformation into a celebrated social venue.
This portrait is a rare surviving piece directly linked to the Jones lineage, reinforcing the heritage and legacy of one of Wales’s most historic castles.
Dimensions
Unframed: 126.2 × 102 cm
Framed: 130.5 × 107.4 cm
Weight: approx. 5 kg
Condition Report
Painting: Natural age-related crackling across the canvas, with minor blemishes visible in places.
Frame: Some wear consistent with age.
Overall: Good antique condition, structurally sound.
