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    The Arbra Sacra on the Banks of Lake Nemi (Study of an Ancient Tree)

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    The Arbra Sacra on the Banks of Lake Nemi (Study of an Ancient Tree)
    The Arbra Sacra on the Banks of Lake Nemi (Study of an Ancient Tree)
    The Arbra Sacra on the Banks of Lake Nemi (Study of an Ancient Tree)
    Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
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    Artist
    Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782)
    Title
    The Arbra Sacra on the Banks of Lake Nemi (Study of an Ancient Tree)
    Date
    c.1754 (undated)
    Medium
    Black chalk with white chalk on blued-white, medium, slightly textured, laid paper
    Dimensions
    Metric: 389 x 560 mm
    Imperial: 15 5/16 x 22 1/16 in.
    Collection
    Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, New Haven. To license images click here
    Accession Number
    B1977.14.4655
    Wilson Online Reference
    D245
    Exhibited
    New York and London 1972 (26); New Haven, English Landscape, 1977 (18); Munich 1979-80 (104); London, Cardiff and New Haven, 1982-83 (52); Yale Center for British Art,Sandby, 1985 (15); New Haven 2001 (99); Cardiff, Manchester and London 2003-4 (19); New Haven and London 2007-8 (21); Tercentenary 2014 (135)
    Provenance
    Paul Sandby; Christie's, 3 May 1811 (101 - One ditto [original drawing/sketch], an elaborate and faithful study, a portrait of the Arbra Santa, on the borders of the Lake of Nemi), bt Callen [=Callender?] (£30); [...] George Guy Greville, 4th Earl of Warwick; Mrs Arthur Clifton; Agnew, 1964; bt Paul Mellon, 1964
    Signature/inscription
    Unsigned; no inscription
    Collectors' marks
    [1] Stamp lower right: Paul Sandby (Lugt 2112)
    [2] Stamp lower right: Earl of Warwick (Lugt 2600)
    Verso inscriptions
    [1] Graphite, lower right: RICHARD WILSON: ANCIENT TREE
    Subject
    The 'sacred tree', correctly designated 'arbor sancta', was presumably so named after the sacred tree in the grove of the goddess Diana at Lake Nemi.
    Critical commentary
    The size and sensitivity of this presentation drawing demonstrate Wilson's developing skills as a draughtsman, perfected during his stay in Italy. His pupil,Thomas Jones, recorded in his diary on 30 April 1777, 'All went to make sketches about the Lake of Nemi - particularly a large Plane tree on the Edge of the Water call'd the Arbor Santa [sic] which has a hollow within ... I was told here that my Old Master Willson when in this Country made use of it as a Study to Paint in.'
    Previous Cat/Ref Nos
    Object ID: 14279
    Bibliography
    Jones 1803, p. 58; New Haven, English Landscape, 1977, p. 13, pl. LV; Solkin, 1982, pp. 172-74; Sumner & Smith 2003, p. 129 repr.; Baskett 2007, p. 251, no. 21, pl. 21; Wilson and Europe 2014, pp. 310-11
    Updated by Compiler
    2019-03-05 00:00:00

    Exhibitions

    • London, Tate Gallery, Cardiff, National Museum of Wales, and New Haven, Conn., Yale Center for British Art, 3 November 1982 - 19 June 1983
    • Munich, Haus der Kunst, 21 November 1979 - 27 January 1980
    • London, Simon C. Dickinson Ltd, 12 June - 13 July 2012
    • National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester and National Gallery, London, 21 May 2003 - 15 February 2004
    • New Haven, Yale Center for British Art and London, Royal Academy, 18 April - 29 July 2007 and 20 October 2007 - 27 January 2008
    • New Haven, Yale Center for British Art, 17 May - 2 September 2001
    • New York, Pierpont Morgan Library and London, Royal Academy, 13 April - 28 July 1972
    • New Haven, Yale Center for British Art & Cardiff, Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, 6 March - 29 October 2014
    • New Haven, Yale Center for British Art, 19 April - 17 July 1977

    Biographies

    • Thomas Jones (1742-1803)
    • Paul Sandby (c.1730-1809)
    • Paul Mellon (1907-1999)
    • George Guy Greville Brooke, 4th Earl of Warwick (1818-1893)
    • Thomas Thane (1782-1846)
    • John Thane (1748-1818)

    Documents

    • David Solkin, Richard Wilson: The Landscape of Reaction
    • Martin Postle & Robin Simon, Richard Wilson and the Transformation of European Landscape Painting
    • Thomas Jones, Memoirs of Thomas Jones, Penkerrig, Radnorshire, 1803
    • Ann Sumner & Greg Smith eds., Thomas Jones (1742-1803): An Artist rediscovered
    • Christopher White, English Landscape 1630-1850: Drawings, Prints & Books from the Paul Mellon Collection
    • John Baskett, Paul Mellon's Legacy, a Passion for British Art: Masterpieces from the Yale Center for British Art
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