Early 19th-Century View of the Bay of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius

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The 19th-century, affluent young English gent was practically obligated to make The Grand Tour as a rite of passage. Of … Read more The 19th-century, affluent young English gent was practically obligated to make The Grand Tour as a rite of passage. Of course, the itinerary had to include Italy. Afterwards, the traveler would want images as mementos of the trip. And British landscape artist Robert Freebairn (1764–1808) was at the ready.
Working with London-based printmaker John Hill and printer J. Barfield, Freebarin published his “Six Select Views in Italy” in 1802. According to the British Museum in London, which has originals from this set, on offer here is a hand-colored print after the second in the series, “An Italian Villa, Situated in Mount Pausilippo.” A classical Italian “veduta” or view, the artwork shows a terraced hillside with figures, a villa overlooking the sea, the Bay of Naples in the distance and the recognizable silhouette of Mount Vesuvius across the bay. The series undoubtedly found a ready market, as later editions or similar plates are also recorded from 1806 on.
Signature/Maker’s mark: Nonexistent. Handwritten notation verso (photo #13) may be incorrect. Unframed dimensions: 7.5”h x 10”w. See less