"A Difficult Bunker" by Douglas Adams, Photogravure, Circa 1894

Presented is a handsome photogravure of "A Difficult Bunker" by sporting artist Douglas Adams. "A Difficult Bunker" is one in a famous trio of three paintings depicting the links at the Conwy Golf Club, in North Wales. The other two in the series are titled "The Drive" and "Putting Green." Adams decided to paint the series after a trip to the golf course in 1893. The three paintings, completed in 1893, were published as photogravures the next year, 1894, by Henry Graves & Co. 

In the foreground, a golfer is focused on his shot, while his caddy waits nearby. His opponent and their caddy stand just behind them, watching. The background of “Difficult Bunker” shows the characteristic outline of the hills to the south of the course, generally part of the northern Carneddau range and forming the northern extremity of the Snowdonia range. The site of “Difficult Bunker” is at the western edge of the course in the region of the 12th and 13th holes, looking in a westerly direction, with the Isle of Anglesey in the background. In the mid-distance is “The Ship” public house, which stood until it was demolished in mid 1980s.

Douglas Adams (1853-1920) exhibited in the Royal Academy between 1880 and 1894, and also shared a Primrose Hill studio with other artists. He specialized as a landscape and wildfowl painter and very often painted sporting scenes. Many of his paintings are of field sports including hunting, shooting, and fishing, as well as other landscapes painted in the Victorian tradition. Due to the success of his paintings, Adams worked with the well-known publishers to create limited edition prints of his more popular painted scenes.  

CONDITION:

Photogravure. In good condition.  Signed in the painting "Douglas Adams 1893" at lower right. Publication line reads "Painted by Douglas Adams" at bottom left margin and "London Published 1894 by Henry Graves & Co. the Engravers, Publishers to H.M. the Queen and T.R.H. the Prince & Princess of Wales, 5 Pall Mall, Copyright Registered __ U.S.A. Copyright 1894 by Henry Graves & Co." at bottom center margin. 

Framed Dimensions: 27 3/4" H x 36 1/2" W x 1 3/4" D.