Antique Prints of Merionethshire and Montgomeryshire

Henry Gastineau (1791–1876) was a prominent Victorian watercolour artist best known for his detailed and atmospheric landscapes of Britain and Wales. Born in Cheltenham, he developed an early interest in drawing and topography, combining artistic skill with a strong sense of geographical accuracy. This blend made his work especially valuable at a time when Britain was rapidly changing through industrialisation and expanding travel.

Gastineau built his reputation through extensive sketching tours across the countryside, rivers, castles, and historic towns of England and Wales. His watercolours were admired for their clarity, delicate colouring, and careful architectural detail. He exhibited regularly at major institutions, including the Royal Academy and the Society of Painters in Water Colours, and became widely respected among Victorian art circles.

Beyond gallery work, Gastineau contributed illustrations to many important topographical and travel publications, helping to shape how Victorian audiences visualised their national landscape. His art captured both the romantic spirit and the documentary precision valued in the 19th century, making him an important figure in British topographical and landscape art.