Carmarthenshire painting mystery


People are being asked to help solve a 100-year-old mystery of a painting now on display at Carmarthenshire County Museum (pictured above).
The watercolour painting by popular Carmarthenshire artist B A Lewis has baffled museum staff who have been trying to identify its location.
It shows a big top with the words “Courageous Events Hall” across it, and is dated 1904.
One suggestion is that it is a view of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, which visited Carmarthen in 1904.
Buffalo Bill, or William Frederick Cody, toured Wales from 1903 to 1904. His show featured Indians attacking stagecoaches and wagon trains, and being seen off by cowboys and soldiers. He came to Carmarthen on May 13, 1904 and the Indians, now known as Native Americans, brought their families with them and set up camp.
Museum staff would love to hear from anyone who can solve the mystery from over a century ago of what the scene is depicting and its location.
County Museums Officer Ann Dorsett said: “Despite the best efforts of staff we have not been able to determine what this painting is about and what the location of it is.
“Our best guess is that it is about the Wild West Show, but we have no confirmation of this.
“We would love to solve this mystery and welcome any information from anyone who might hold the answer to it.”
Other paintings at the Home and Away exhibition by B A Lewis feature scenes of Carmarthenshire and further afield, including the Tywi river at Carmarthen, Pinner in Middlesex, Brecon, Solva and Tenby.
Benjamin Archibald Lewis was a talented amateur artist, born in Carmarthen in 1857.
He trained as a gas engineer and worked for a time in South Africa then returned to Carmarthen in 1893 to manage the town’s gasworks.
On his retirement in 1930, he moved to Ferryside where he gave more time to his painting, and died in 1946.
A friendly artistic rivalry developed with his youngest son, Edward Morland Lewis, who was also an artist.
Paintings by Edward Morland Lewis can also be seen at the museum in the Chapel corridor.
The exhibition is on show at Carmarthenshire County Museum until the beginning of September. Entry to the museum is free.

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