Neapolitan School Artist, Naples from Villa Reale, Mid-19th Century, Gouache Painting

Description

An original mid-19th-century gouache painting, Neapolitan School, Naples from Villa Reale.A good-sized veduta of the Neapolitan School, meticulously hand-painted in … more An original mid-19th-century gouache painting, Neapolitan School, Naples from Villa Reale.A good-sized veduta of the Neapolitan School, meticulously hand-painted in brilliant gouache or 'guazzo'. The view looks along the coastal promenade towards the city of Naples from the Villa Reale or Royal Villa. The iconic profile of the smoking Vesuvius can be seen in the distance.Intensely coloured and animated by small figures, this painting is typical of the veduta style that flourished in Naples during this period to meet popular demand from wealthy Grand Tourists for souvenirs of the city. The anonymous artists of the Neapolitan School employed specific motifs and colours which today can be considered a unique, iconic visual language.On wove paper with handpainted border tipped on to cream backing paper. An accompanying handpainted title is pasted below.Provenance: from a Victorian travel album belonging to Florinda Bookey (1832–1916) of Duninga House, Duninga, Kilkenny, Ireland who in 1867 married William Greenwood (d.1887), Ceylon coffee planter. Signed: No. Inscribed: Inscribed below. Height: 15.8cm (6.2″) Width: 23.9cm (9.4″) Condition: In very good condition for its age, by virtue of being well-preserved within an album. Colours are luminous, with just the odd minor mark. Some further marks and slight toning to the backing sheet as shown. Please see photos for detail. Presented: Unframed. less