Happy St David’s Day!
On this St. David’s Day, let’s celebrate a remarkable victory for Welsh culture.
Satellite picture of North Wales (creative commons)
The portrait of Catrin of Berain, a Welsh noblewoman from the 16th century, now home and celebrated in Wales… and the story of how it was recovered from time in Nazi possession.
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Katheryn of Berain was a Welsh noblewoman who lived from 1535 to 1591. She was known for her four marriages and her extensive network of descendants.
Katheryn of Berain is often referred to as the “Mother of Wales” due to her extensive family connections and her contributions to Welsh society.
Through her four marriages, she had numerous children and stepchildren who went on to form some of the most prominent families in Wales. Her descendants played significant roles in Welsh politics, culture, and business, solidifying her status as a matriarch of Welsh society.
Octogram Tudor Ceiling at Plas Mawr in Conwy
Born into a wealthy family, Katheryn married four times:
- First Marriage: To John Salusbury (c. 1566) understood to be a relative of William Salesbury, a renowned Welsh scholar and translator of the Bible into Welsh
Had two sons: Thomas and John - Second Marriage: To Sir Richard Clough (c. 1567) of Bach-y-Graig, a house which borrows heavily from Soulton Hall
Had two daughters: Anne and Mary - Third Marriage: To Maurice Wynn (c. 1579) a family connected to Plas Mawr, which contains plaster cielings linked to Soulton
Had two children: Henry and Jane - Fourth Marriage: To Edward Thelwall (date unknown)
Bach-y-Graig, Tremeirchion
including Sir Richard Clough, a prominent merchant and founder of the Royal Exchange.
She had children with three of her husbands, and her descendants included notable figures like Hester Thrale and John Salusbury.
Katheryn’s life was marked by wealth, social status, and historical significance. Her portrait, painted by Adriaen van Cronenburgh, is a testament to her legacy and the enduring power of Welsh heritage.
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Portrait of Katheryn of Berain by Adriaen van Cronenburgh c.1568, in the National Museum Cardiff
The painting, a masterpiece by Adriaen van Cronenburgh, was originally owned by Catrin’s family in North Wales. In 1938, for reasons that remain unclear, the family decided to sell the portrait and contacted a London art dealer. Despite being offered to the National Museum of Wales, the sale ultimately fell through.
The London dealer, with connections to the Amsterdam art market, sold the painting to Walter Andreas Hofer, an art advisor to Hermann Goering, in November 1940. This marked the beginning of the painting’s journey into Nazi hands.
After the fall of the Third Reich in 1945, Allied forces discovered Catrin of Berain’s portrait among the Nazi art collection. Specialized units, rescued countless artworks and traced their origins to determine rightful ownership. In the case of Catrin’s portrait, investigators tracked down the Dutch dealer who had originally sold the painting. The National Museum of Wales is therefore confident that there can be no dispute over ownership in this case.
The Nazis’ motivations for acquiring art were complex. Art’s power to influence and inspire is undeniable: as ‘The Mother of Wales’, Catrin’s identity held significant cultural weight. By acquiring her portrait, the Nazis sought to aggrandize themselves and their regime, asserting power and dominance through the display of prestigious artworks, part of the Nazis’ understanding of art’s cultural significance.
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After the war, the portrait was recovered and returned to Wales, thanks to the efforts of art historians, investigators, and international cooperation. This triumph serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage and holding accountable those who seek to exploit it for their own gain.
Let us honour the memory of Catrin of Berain and celebrate the resilience of Welsh culture.
View to Wales from Soulton in a bright red sunset
