Jump to the content
Register
Log in
Advanced Search
Works of Art
Biographies
Exhibitions
Bibliographical Resources
Main
Home
Paintings
Drawings
Prints
Browse All Works
Wilson Collections
Wilson Collections Map
Tercentenary Exhibition
Other Exhibitions
Project Highlights
Themes and Media
Biographies
Bibliographical Resources
Torre delle Grotte, near Naples
You searched for:
D207 - Torre delle Grotte, near Naples
1 Item
No items selected
Torre delle Grotte, near Naples
Credit Line
Tate, London 2014
Larger Image
Select Item
Email Link
Print
Feedback
Artist
Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782)
Title
Torre delle Grotte, near Naples
Date
c.1752 (undated)
Medium
Graphite, black chalk, stump and white highlights on buff-grey laid paper mounted on old faun card
Dimensions
279 x 381 mm
Dimensions
10 15/16 x 15 in.
Details
Links
Collection
Tate, London. To license image, click here.
Accession Number
T09300
Wilson Online Reference
D207
Description
A view across a bay of caves cut into a cliff-face, with a square tower on the summit and a stone arch projecting into the sea on the left. This side of the water, men in a small barge can be seen in the left foreground and there are other sailing craft in the distance.
A view across a bay of caves cut into a cliff-face, with a square tower on the summit and a stone arch projecting into the sea on the left. This side of the water, men in a small barge can be seen in the left foreground and there are other sailing craft in the distance.
Exhibited
Tokyo, Institute of Art Research, Ueno, 10-24 October 1929, <i> Loan Collection of English Water-Colour Drawings</i> (1); Birmingham 1948-49 (43); London 1949 (52); Sheffield 1952 (76); Leicester 1953 (82); Tercentenary 2014 (117)
Tokyo, Institute of Art Research, Ueno, 10-24 October 1929,
Loan Collection of English Water-Colour Drawings
(1); Birmingham 1948-49 (43); London 1949 (52); Sheffield 1952 (76); Leicester 1953 (82); Tercentenary 2014 (117)
Provenance
William Lock sale, Sotheby's 3 May 1821 (396); William Esdaile; his sale, Christie's 1838 (646); Paul Oppé; purchased as part of Oppé Collection with assistance from the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, 1996
William Lock sale, Sotheby's 3 May 1821 (396); William Esdaile; his sale, Christie's 1838 (646); Paul Oppé; purchased as part of Oppé Collection with assistance from the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, 1996
Signature/inscription
Signed in black chalk lower left: R.W.f.
Signed in black chalk lower left: R.W.f.
Techniques and materials
The lines of the laid paper are prominently visible
The lines of the laid paper are prominently visible
Collectors' marks
[1] Recto lower right corner, in ink: WE. (William Esdaile, Lugt 2617)
[1] Recto lower right corner, in ink: WE. (William Esdaile, Lugt 2617)
Verso inscriptions
[1] Upper left. old pencil: From Mr Esdaile's Collection [2] Lower left. old ink: 1821 WE Lock's sale No 102X P116 [3] Lower centre, old ink: Wilson
[1] Upper left. old pencil: From Mr Esdaile's Collection
[2] Lower left. old ink: 1821 WE Lock's sale No 102X P116
[3] Lower centre, old ink: Wilson
Mount inscriptions
[1] Recto lower left in black ink: 102 X [2] Recto black ink in Esdaile's hand lower centre.: Torre delle Grotte
[1] Recto lower left in black ink: 102 X
[2] Recto black ink in Esdaile's hand lower centre.: Torre delle Grotte
Labels
Subject
It has recently been shown by Robin Simon and Martin Postle that the scene is of Torregaveta, a craggy outcrop on the Phlegraean peninsula to the east of Naples. Close to Baiae, Cumae and the volcanic lakes of Fusaro and Avernus, it had many classical associations. At the summit of the cliffs was the ruin of a villa fortress constructed by the Roman consul, Servilius Vatia (c.122-44 BC). The tower of the villa was still prominent in the 18th century but was damaged in the Second World War, by which time the rock face and the arches had also been much eroded.
It has recently been shown by Robin Simon and Martin Postle that the scene is of Torregaveta, a craggy outcrop on the Phlegraean peninsula to the east of Naples. Close to Baiae, Cumae and the volcanic lakes of Fusaro and Avernus, it had many classical associations. At the summit of the cliffs was the ruin of a villa fortress constructed by the Roman consul, Servilius Vatia (c.122-44 BC). The tower of the villa was still prominent in the 18th century but was damaged in the Second World War, by which time the rock face and the arches had also been much eroded.
Related Subjects
Related Drawings
Related Prints
E35 William Hodges after Wilson, <i>Twelve Etchings of Views in Italy - Torre Delle Grotte near Naples</i>, 1776, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, New Haven and other impressions
E35 William Hodges after Wilson,
Twelve Etchings of Views in Italy - Torre Delle Grotte near Naples
, 1776, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, New Haven and other impressions
Versions
See 'Links' tab
See 'Links' tab
Related Paintings
P70 <i>Torre delle Grotte near Naples</i>, Private Collection, Yorkshire P70A <i>Torre delle Grotte near Naples</i>, John Mitchell Fine Art Paintings
P70
Torre delle Grotte near Naples
, Private Collection, Yorkshire
P70A
Torre delle Grotte near Naples
, John Mitchell Fine Art Paintings
Related Works by Other Artists
Critical commentary
This is the finished drawing for the painting of the same title, of which several versions are known (see 'Related Paintings'). William Hodges's etching (E35) also derives from this drawing. Wilson was first in Naples and the vicinity as early as 1752 and probably made it at that time.
This is the finished drawing for the painting of the same title, of which several versions are known (see 'Related Paintings'). William Hodges's etching (E35) also derives from this drawing. Wilson was first in Naples and the vicinity as early as 1752 and probably made it at that time.
Previous Cat/Ref Nos
380
380
Bibliography
L. Binyon, <i>Catalogue of English Water-colour Drawings</i>, Tokyo 1929, p. 3, pl. I; Ford 1951, p. 57, no. 43; WGC, pp. 110, 199, pl. 78b; Wilson and Europe 2014, pp. 294-95
L. Binyon,
Catalogue of English Water-colour Drawings
, Tokyo 1929, p. 3, pl. I; Ford 1951, p. 57, no. 43; WGC, pp. 110, 199, pl. 78b; Wilson and Europe 2014, pp. 294-95
Link to WG Constable Archive Record
<a href="http://www.calmview.co.uk/paulmelloncentre/calmview/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=WGC%2f1%2f1%2f87" title="WGC/1/1/87" class="rewritten">WGC/1/1/87</a>
WGC/1/1/87
Location featured in work
More Information
Condition/Conservation
Some brown staining, e.g. top left area
Some brown staining, e.g. top left area
Illustrations of the Work
Updated by Compiler
Work of Art
Prints
William Hodges after Wilson,
Twelve Etchings of Views in Italy - Torre Delle Grotte near Naples
, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, New Haven
William Hodges after Wilson,
Torre delle Grotte near Naples
, The British Museum
William Hodges after Wilson,
Torre delle Grotte near Naples
, The British Museum
William Hodges after Wilson,
Torre delle Grotte near Naples
, Royal Academy of Arts, London
Paintings
Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782),
Torre delle Grotte near Naples
, Private Collection, Yorkshire
Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782),
Torre delle Grotte near Naples
, John Mitchell Fine Art Paintings
Exhibitions
New Haven, Yale Center for British Art & Cardiff, Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, 6 March - 29 October 2014
Leicester Museums and Art Gallery, June - July 1953
Biographies
William Lock 'of Norbury', 1732-1810
William Esdaile, 1758-1837
Adolf Paul Oppé, 1878-1957
Documents
William George Constable,
Richard Wilson
Brinsley Ford,
The Drawings of Richard Wilson
Martin Postle & Robin Simon,
Richard Wilson and the Transformation of European Landscape Painting
Part of a sketchbook
To view this image and see text below or to compare two images, click on
'larger image'
icon for a moveable window.
OK
View Selected