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Introduction
Thomas Jones, like many other artists, left behind written as well as visual material. Although no extensive personal archive exists, three major manuscripts of his have survived: a volume of Memoirs and two account books, all included in this exhibition. The Memoirs and one account book were generously bequeathed to the National Library of Wales in July 2000 by the late Mrs Jane Evan-Thomas, whilst the so-called 'Italian account book' is still in a private collection and is reproduced here by kind permission of the owner. Related material is preserved in other collections at the National Library, notably among the Pencerrig estate papers, including the artist's burlesque autobiographical account of a 'Trip to Calais' of 1767, mentioned in his Memoirs (ff. 23-4).The three manuscripts presented here provide valuable biographical information, often in an idiosyncratic and engaging fashion. The Memoirs and Italian account book document his stay in Italy between 1776 and 1783, but both also provide information about his life after his return to Pencerrig, where he lived the life of a country squire until his death. These two volumes are complemented by the second account book which covers the years 1788-97.