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
View of Lago d'Agnano, the Bay of Naples and Vesuvius in the Distance (Lago d'Agnano - I)
You searched for:
"London 1949" Is linked to these Works of Art
87 Items
No items selected
1
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
87
View of Lago d'Agnano, the Bay of Naples and Vesuvius in the Distance (Lago d'Agnano - I)
Credit Line
Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
Larger Image
Select Item
Email Link
Print
Feedback
Artist
Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782)
Title
View of Lago d'Agnano, the Bay of Naples and Vesuvius in the Distance (Lago d'Agnano - I)
Date
c.1753 (undated)
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
43.5 x 56.1 cm
Dimensions
17 1/8 x 22 1/16 in.
Details
Links
Collection
Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford. To license image, click here.
Accession Number
WA1855.204
Wilson Online Reference
P47
Description
Lago d'Agnano, formerly situated eight kilometres west of Naples, is seen from the west, looking southeast across the lake and crater, past Naples towards Mount Vesuvius, smoking in the distance to the left. The peninsula of Sorrento is seen in the centre and the island of Capri on the right. Two women are in conversation in the centre-right foreground and a small boat plies the lake beyond them.
Lago d'Agnano, formerly situated eight kilometres west of Naples, is seen from the west, looking southeast across the lake and crater, past Naples towards Mount Vesuvius, smoking in the distance to the left. The peninsula of Sorrento is seen in the centre and the island of Capri on the right. Two women are in conversation in the centre-right foreground and a small boat plies the lake beyond them.
Exhibited
Birmingham 1948-49 (47); London 1949 (46)
Birmingham 1948-49 (47); London 1949 (46)
Provenance
Chambers Hall Gift, 1855
Chambers Hall Gift, 1855
Signature/inscription
Unsigned; no inscription
Unsigned; no inscription
Techniques and materials
Collectors' marks
Verso inscriptions
[1] Upper stretcher left, white chalk: 46 [2] Vertical stretcher near top, black ink: Lago | di | Agnano | with the Promontory | of Minerva and | Island of Capri | in the distance [3] Canvas left side, white chalk: 93 [4] Canvas chalk: No 93
[1] Upper stretcher left, white chalk: 46
[2] Vertical stretcher near top, black ink: Lago | di | Agnano | with the Promontory | of Minerva and | Island of Capri | in the distance
[3] Canvas left side, white chalk: 93
[4] Canvas chalk: No 93
Mount inscriptions
Labels
[1] Verso upper stretcher centre, black ink: R. Wilson. [2] Verso lower stretcher, printed: From THE DEPARTMENT OF FINE ART, | ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM, OXFORD | [black ink:] 47 [inverted] | [illegible as covered, inverted] [3] Verso lower frame centre, red crayon: 46. The Lake of Agnano
[1] Verso upper stretcher centre, black ink: R. Wilson.
[2] Verso lower stretcher, printed: From THE DEPARTMENT OF FINE ART, | ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM, OXFORD | [black ink:] 47 [inverted] | [illegible as covered, inverted]
[3] Verso lower frame centre, red crayon: 46. The Lake of Agnano
Subject
The waterfilled volcanic crater near Naples was a popular resort in ancient times on account of its hot, sulphurous springs but was drained in the 1870s in order to limit the spread of mosquito-borne malaria. It had been a major attraction for eighteenth-century Grand Tourists.
The waterfilled volcanic crater near Naples was a popular resort in ancient times on account of its hot, sulphurous springs but was drained in the 1870s in order to limit the spread of mosquito-borne malaria. It had been a major attraction for eighteenth-century Grand Tourists.
Related Subjects
Related Drawings
D177 <i>The Lago di Agnano</i>, Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
D177
The Lago di Agnano
, Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
Related Prints
Versions
See 'Links' tab
See 'Links' tab
Related Paintings
Pendant: P58 <i>The Baths of Ischia, near Naples</i>, Tate, London
Pendant: P58
The Baths of Ischia, near Naples
, Tate, London
Related Works by Other Artists
Critical commentary
P47 corresponds closely with a drawing made during a visit to Naples in 1752 or later (D177) which also served as the basis for other compositions, of which the best version is P47A <i> Lago d'Agnano with Vesuvius in the Distance </i>, Yale Center for British Art. During his time in Italy, Wilson made several expeditions to Naples and its environs, first in 1752, then in the spring of 1753 and again in 1756.
P47 corresponds closely with a drawing made during a visit to Naples in 1752 or later (D177) which also served as the basis for other compositions, of which the best version is P47A
Lago d'Agnano with Vesuvius in the Distance
, Yale Center for British Art. During his time in Italy, Wilson made several expeditions to Naples and its environs, first in 1752, then in the spring of 1753 and again in 1756.
Previous Cat/Ref Nos
A199
A199
Bibliography
Grant 1926-47, p. 61; Bury 1947, p. 68; Waterhouse 1953, p. 175, pl. 140A; WGC, pp. 92, 190-91, pl. 63a; <i>The Ashmolean Museum, Complete Catalogue of Paintings</i>, Oxford 2004, p. 245 repr.
Grant 1926-47, p. 61; Bury 1947, p. 68; Waterhouse 1953, p. 175, pl. 140A; WGC, pp. 92, 190-91, pl. 63a;
The Ashmolean Museum, Complete Catalogue of Paintings
, Oxford 2004, p. 245 repr.
Link to WG Constable Archive Record
<a href="http://calmview.co.uk/paulmelloncentre/calmview/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=WGC%2f1%2f1%2f75" title="WGC/1/1/75" class="rewritten">WGC/1/1/75</a>
WGC/1/1/75
Location featured in work
More Information
It was landscapes such as this, partially based on those of Claude Lorrain but more generalised in atmosphere and representing actual views, that largely formed the idea of Italian landscape current in England during the second half of the 18th century. They were eagerly copied and emulated after Wilson's death.
It was landscapes such as this, partially based on those of Claude Lorrain but more generalised in atmosphere and representing actual views, that largely formed the idea of Italian landscape current in England during the second half of the 18th century. They were eagerly copied and emulated after Wilson's death.
Condition/Conservation
Restored by Revitt in 1867. There are vertical scoring marks on both sides of the picture and it has slipped slightly in the frame at upper right.
Restored by Revitt in 1867. There are vertical scoring marks on both sides of the picture and it has slipped slightly in the frame at upper right.
Illustrations of the Work
Updated by Compiler
25/05/2020
25/05/2020
Work of Art
Drawings
Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782),
The Lago di Agnano
, Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
Versions
Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782)
Lago d'Agnano with Vesuvius in the Distance (Lago d'Agnano - I)
, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, New Haven
Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782)
Lago d'Agnano with Vesuvius in the Distance (Lago d'Agnano - I)
, Private Collection, England
Paintings
Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782),
The Baths of Ischia, near Naples
, Tate, London
Exhibitions
Birmingham City Art Gallery, 17 November 1948 - 9 January 1949
London, Tate Gallery, 22 January - 14 March 1949
Biographies
Chambers Hall, 1786-1855
Horace Buttery, 1846-1900
Documents
William George Constable,
Richard Wilson
Ellis Kirkham Waterhouse,
Painting in Britain 1530-1790
Adrian Bury,
Richard Wilson, R.A.: The Grand Classic
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