Castle of Ischia (from Twelve Original Views in Italy)

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Castle of Ischia (from Twelve Original Views in Italy)
Castle of Ischia (from Twelve Original Views in Italy)
Castle of Ischia (from Twelve Original Views in Italy)
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
title=Credit line
Artist
James Gandon (1742-1823) after Wilson
Title
Castle of Ischia (from Twelve Original Views in Italy)
Date
Undated
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Metric: Sheet: 248 x 343 mm; plate: 184 x 257 mm
Imperial: Sheet: 9 3/4 x 13 1/2 in.; plate: 7 1/4 x 10 1/8 in.
Accession Number
B1977.14.21011(i)
Wilson Online Reference
E40
Description
Seascape with distant mountains and a castle on a massive rocky islet in the centre, accessed by a low bridge to land on the right. Two fishermen appear in the foreground with a figure in a boat on the left and another further out on the water.
Provenance
Acquired 1977
Signature/inscription
Lettered below the image with title and production detail: 'R. Wilson del', 'Jas. Gandon sc.'
Subject
Ischia is a volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the city of Naples itself. It is the largest of the Phlegrean Islands. The original fortress was built on a rock near the island in 474 BC and in 1441 Alfonso V of Aragon connected the rock to the island with a stone bridge and fortified the walls against the raids of pirates. In Wilson's day about 2000 families lived on the islet, in addition to numerous religious, a bishop, prince and military garrison.
Versions
See 'Links' tab
Another impression is at the National Museum Wales, Cardiff (NMW A 5974)
Related Works by Other Artists
Francis Towne Castle of Ischia, watercolour, unlocated + 3 copies by Towne's pupils
Previous Cat/Ref Nos
Object ID: 49690
Bibliography
Booth Notes Doc. 7; Edwards 1808, p. 88; T.J. Mulvany, The Life of James Gandon, Esq. 1846, facsimile reprint ed. M. Craig, 1969, pp. 191-92
More Information
E40 is one of the few extant impressions of this etching (along with E40B) to lack Boydell's publication line. This may indicate that, together with other prints in the series Twelve Original Views in Italy, it was first commissioned by Wilson with a view to publication himself, and only later passed or sold to Boydell when Wilson was hard pressed for cash.
Condition/Conservation
Bound with eleven other 'original views' in an old leather binding with 'Views of Rome' imprinted on the spine but lacking a title page. Spine of the binding: 254 mm (10 in.)
Updated by Compiler
2025-05-07 00:00:00