Pierre-Jacques Duret After Joseph Vernet, View of the Environs of Naples, 1766, Engraving

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An important 18th-century antique print depicting a Neapolitan view of the coast and surroundings of Naples, engraved by Pierre-Jacques Duret … Read more An important 18th-century antique print depicting a Neapolitan view of the coast and surroundings of Naples, engraved by Pierre-Jacques Duret after Joseph Vernet and dedicated to Christian VII, King of Denmark and Norway. The composition presents a picturesque Mediterranean landscape with dramatic cliffs, architecture, boats and numerous figures, reflecting the fascination with the Italian landscape central to the Grand Tour tradition.

Executed in etching and engraving on paper, the print dates to approximately 1766–1769. The present example has been hand-coloured with watercolour at a later date, enhancing the atmospheric sky, landscape, architecture and figures while preserving the fine engraved detail of the original antique engraving.

The lower margin retains the original French inscription, dedication and heraldic emblem. Several tears, paper losses and areas of deterioration are visible in this lower section, particularly around the inscription. The main engraved image remains clearly legible, while the later hand-colouring contributes to the distinctive decorative character of the work.

The print measures approximately 80 × 58 cm, while the overall framed dimensions are 96 × 75 × 2 cm.

Presented in a substantial decorative wooden frame with a wide mount, this antique framed print combines an important 18th-century Neapolitan landscape with the decorative appeal of later hand-colouring. Its large format, historical subject and connection with Joseph Vernet and Pierre-Jacques Duret make it particularly interesting for collectors of antique prints, Grand Tour art, Italian landscapes and Neapolitan views, as well as for sophisticated classical interiors. See less