The National Library of Wales is proud to announce that it has purchased the Salem painting on behalf of the nation, to protect and cherish it forever.
The painting is today an artistic Welsh icon. Painted in 1909 by the artist Curnow Vosper, it depicts a scene at Salem Chapel, Cefncymerau, Llanbedr near Harlech. Siân Owen is the central character of the painting.
Salem is an iconic record of Welsh life and the nonconformist tradition in Wales and increasingly became a talking-point due to the fact that some viewed an image of the devil in the fold of the shawl of Sian Owen. The work purchased by the Library is one of two versions painted by Vosper.
The first was originally purchased by an industrialist called William Hesketh Lever and was used in a far reaching promotional campaign by Sunlight Soap, the Lever Brothers’ company. As a result, reproductions of the painting were widely circulated around Britain and the image is famous for its appearance in homes across Wales. It is no surprise that today Salem is one of Wales’ most famous paintings, as iconic as The Hay Wain in England some have argued.
This second version was painted for the artist’s brother-in-law, Frank James.
Pedr ap Llwyd, Chief Executive and Librarian of the National Library of Wales said:
“We are so pleased to have been able to purchase this iconic painting of a chapel service at Cefn Cymerau and Siân Owen and the devil in its fold. This enigmatic work by Sydney Curnow Vosper is one of the nation’s treasures and I look forward to sharing it with the people of Wales and beyond. We look forward to exhibiting the piece at the Library, and take it out into the community as part of our Masterpieces in Schools program.”
Meri Huws, Vice President of the Library, said:
“This priceless treasure could have easily been lost by the nation and this would have been a great travesty. Over the years the Library has collected works of art that portray Welsh life and this painting will enhance our excellent and extensive collection of Welsh artwork.”
Ben Rogers Jones of Rogers Jones auctioneers said:
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the National Library of Wales for their expediency in agreeing the sale. I cannot think of a more dynamic, creative and worthy custodian than the Library, and I for one will be looking forward to seeing ‘Salem’ in its new home in Aberystwyth.”
Painting image by Sydney Curnow Vosper – www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/artifact/salem, Public Domain
