Artist Unknown

Claude Vernet

France, b.1714, d.1789 (After)

View Of Naples

This is a rather romantic interpretation of the Bay of Naples, the seaport on the western coast of Italy, at the base of Mt Vesuvius. Naples was a busy port, due to its excellent location in the Mediterranean. The painting was produced around the time of Claude Joseph Vernet (1714 -1789), whose style has been closely followed by the unknown painter. The work is an example of an 18th century style that featured romantic figures and luminous sunsets. The large anchor in the foreground was a motif often used by Vernet and supports the possibility that this work was painted by one of his followers, G.F. de La Croix, who died in 1779. La Croix was known to be a follower of Vernet, an important early French landscape painter who had particular success with paintings of seashores and ports.

Exhibition History

earlier labels about this work
  • This painting was produced around the time of Claude Joseph Vernet, whose style has been followed by this unknown painter. Featuring a highly imaginative view of the Bay of Naples it is an example of an 18th century 'caprice' which often featured romantic figures and luminous sunsets. The sky bathes this scene with a warm misty light, romantic ruins feature at the harbour mouth and the figures in the foreground play music and dance. The large anchor in the foreground was a motif often used by Vernet and supports the attribution of this work to one of his followers.

    This work is possibly by G F de La Croix who died in 1779 and was a follower of Vernet.

    (Label date unknown)