Two Women, Nine Centuries (10-08)

Historical narrative

This painting brings together two women separated by nearly nine centuries, yet connected through an extraordinary family story. On the left stands Nest ferch Rhys (c. 1085–after 1136), the Welsh princess and daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, the last king of Deheubarth. Known in later tradition as “Princess Nesta” and sometimes called the “Helen of Wales,” Nest became an ancestor of several prominent Welsh and Norman families. On the right is Steve’s sister, portrayed in 1965—a modern young woman unknowingly carrying an ancient lineage. According to the family’s genealogical records, Steve’s sister is Nest’s 32nd great-granddaughter. The painting therefore becomes more than a historical portrait: it visually connects medieval Wales with twentieth-century America, placing a likely ancestor beside her descendant. The matching autumnal atmosphere and flowing movement suggest that, across centuries, something of the past continues to live in the present.

Photocomposition

© Stephen B. Hales — All Rights Reserved