B1981.25.683

The view is across the southern end of the lake from the east, with the Grotta del Cane at the left, and a dog suitably included before it. Monte Spina is in the background. Nearby are the old Stufe si San Germano - chambers in which hot sulphurous fumes rising from the ground were collected for the benefit of the sick.

Agnews; acquired in the 1880s by the Hon. Robert Bruce and thereafter by family descent through Lady Elizabeth Babington-Smith to H.G. Babington-Smith, Eton College; 11 October 1961 Agnews (#3955); acquired by Paul Mellon, 11 October 1962

Very light, almost pastel, apart from the dark area in the foreground and to the left.

 

 

 

 

Pendant: P47A Lago d'Agnano wuith Vesuvius in the Distance, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, New Haven

 

WGC, p. 191, pl. 63b; Taylor 1963, cat. 16, pl. 211; Solkin 1982, p. 245; Cormack 1985, pp. 254 & 255

 

Foamboard backboard. Kate Lowry has noted: Original canvas is a simple loose-weave linen, with many slubs and with 13 warp threads x 12 wefts per sq cm. All original turnover edges retained at the time of lining. Attached to stretcher through original and lining turnovers with hand-made tacks. Paste lining is probably 19th century and stretcher dates from this treatment. Four member stretcher with provision for keying out. All keys present and not taped in position. Commercially-prepared white, oil ground covers all upper surface of canvas including turnovers. Under UV light many small retouches can be seen scattered over the surface but more heavily retouched in the middle ground where original paint is thin. The X-ray image shows the left hand slope of the central hill was originally higher and the pentiment is slightly visible in normal light. XRF analysis shows mostly earth and copper colours, plus lead white.

30/08/2018