Castle of Ischia

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Castle of Ischia

The Trustees of the British Museum

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Artist

James Gandon (1742-1823) after Wilson

Title

Castle of Ischia

Date

Published 29 January 1776

Medium

Etching

Dimensions

Metric: 177 x 255 mm
Imperial: 7 x 10 in.

Collection

The British Museum. To license image, click here

Accession Number

1868,0612.1751

Wilson Online Reference

E40C

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

Purchased from Brook [sic], 32 Princes Street, Norwich, 1868

Signature/inscription

Lettered below the image with title, production detail: 'R. Wilson del', 'Jas. Gandon sc.' and publication line: 'Published Jan: 29 1776 by John Boydell Engraver in Cheapside London.'

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 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

Bibliography

Edwards 1808, p. 88; T.J. Mulvany, The Life of James Gandon, Esq. 1846, facsimile reprint ed. M. Craig, 1969, pp. 191-92

Updated by Compiler

2017-07-17 00:00:00

Castle of Ischia

Work of Art

Versions

Biographies