Snowdon, an Approaching Storm 1853

James Ward rendered ‘Snowdon, an Approaching Storm’ with graphite and grey wash on paper during a time of great social and economic change in Britain. As industrialization reshaped the landscape, artists like Ward turned to nature, seeking solace and inspiration in the sublime power of the natural world. Ward’s dramatic depiction of Snowdon reflects not just a landscape, but a state of emotional turmoil. Born during the Enlightenment, he would have seen its values challenged by the birth of Romanticism, with its embrace of emotion, individualism, and the awe-inspiring force of nature. Ward's Britain was a land of stark social contrasts with a growing middle class and the rural poor often displaced by industrialization. In this context, landscapes like ‘Snowdon, an Approaching Storm’ held a particular resonance. This work captures the imposing beauty and raw power of nature, a reminder of forces far beyond human control. It prompts reflection on our place within the broader world.