A View of the Bay of Naples from San Martino (the Vomero) with a Fleet at anchor, Vesuvius beyond and the Palazzo di Capodimonte to the left
Gabriele Ricciardelli (fl.1741 - d.1777)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1747 (signed and dated)
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
630 x 1680 mm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Calke Abbey, Derbyshire
NT 290413.3
Caption
This is one of a set of four paintings, which are amongst the greatest treasures of Calke. Little is known of Ricciardelli save that he was in Dublin by 1753, and still in London in 1777, returning to Naples between times. During these trips, he was evidently able to take advantage of the vogue for Neapolitan views amongst those who had made the Grand Tour. The Harpurs of Calke, however, do not seem to have acquired these directly: Isabel Crewe states that they were “bought, I believe, by Sir Henry Crewe out of an inn at Leicester.” The English form of his Christian-name in his signatures, suggests that Ricciardelli was already in England when these pictures were painted.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, A View of the Bay of Naples from San Martino with a Fleet at Anchor, Vesuvius beyond and the Palazzo di Capodimonte to the left by Gabriele Ricciardelli (fl.1741 - d.1777), 1747. On the hillside in the foreground are several figures. A lady and two gentlemen are seated on a stone plinth drinking wine and with food spread out. The stone is inscribed with the artist's name and date: GABRIEL RICCIARDELLI. P. / MDCCXLVII. Little is known of Ricciardelli, but he was able to take advantage of the vogue for Neopolitan views to produce many pictures for vistors on the Grand Tour. The Harpurs, however, do not seem to have acquired these on their Continental expedition; Isabel Harpur Crewe states that they were 'bought, I believe, by Sir Henry [Harpur] Crewe out of an inn at Leicester'. The English form of his Christian name in his signatures suggests that Ricciardelli was in England when these pictures were painted.
Provenance
According to Isabel Harpur Crewe (1852-1932) they were bought by Sir Henry Crewe, 7th Bt (1763 - 1819) out of an inn at Leicester; acquired with Calke Abbey's contents, with the aid of a grant provided by the National Heritage Memorial Fund, thanks to a special allocation of money from the Government and transferred in lieu of tax on the estate of Charles Jenney Harpur-Crewe (1917 - 1981) to the National Trust with the house that was given by Henry Jenney Harpur-Crewe (1921- 1991), in 1984
Marks and inscriptions
signed and dated (inscribed on stone)
Makers and roles
Gabriele Ricciardelli (fl.1741 - d.1777), artist