18th C. School of Richard Wilson Painting - Lake Nemi

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Ancient | Asian | Ethnographic Art

By Artemis Gallery

May 18, 2023

Set Reminder 2023-05-18 10:00:00 2023-05-18 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Ancient | Asian | Ethnographic Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-asian-ethnographic-art-12797
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• Lot Description
  School of Richard Wilson RA (1713-1782). "Lake of Nemi" oil on canvas, 18th to 19th century. A stunning landscape painting depicting Lake Nemi in the Italian countryside by the school of Richard Wilson, one of the founding members of the Royal Academy and a great contributor to the British landscape tradition. Inspired by the landscape tradition of Claude Lorrain and Gaspar Dughet, Wilson created harmonious pastoral scenes with references to the Classical world, in this case the landscape includes ruins of a classical temple dedicated to Diana, as well as a miniature staffage figure on walking across a stone bridge over the lake. Paintings of the Roman Campagna like this example, replete with poetic views of the countryside bathed in tranquil light and marked by ancient ruins, were quite popular not only during the days of Claude Lorrain in the 17th century but also from the mid 18th to mid 19th century. Size (painting): 15" L x 19.625" W (38.1 cm x 49.8 cm) Size (frame): 19.4" L x 24.2" W (49.3 cm x 61.5 cm)
  
  An old label on the verso attributes this painting to the School of Richard Wilson and states that Wilson's "Lake of Nemi" was published as plate 126 in Colonel M.H. Grant's "The Old English Landscape Painters". It goes on to describe the theme, "Lake Nemi in Alban Hills, Italy. Nearby in ancient times were a grove & temple dedicated to Diana."
  
  About Richard Wilson: "Richard Wilson was born in Penegoes, Wales. The son of a rector, Wilson's social status was higher than most artists of his generation. A wealthy relative sponsored Wilson's early artistic training in London, after which he established himself as a portrait painter.
  
  In 1750, Wilson travelled to Italy where he broke away from portraiture and focussed on landscape painting. He developed a style derived from the classical landscapes of Claude Lorrain and Gaspar Dughet. Returning to London in 1757, Wilson set up an impressive studio in the Piazza in Covent Garden, producing classicised versions of the English landscape which became fashionable among the gentry and aristocracy.
  
  Wilson helped raise the status of landscape-painting, with many of his works reproduced as engravings and sold to a wide public. By the late 1760s many of Wilson's commissions for subject pictures were coming from printsellers rather than private individuals.
  
  Wilson played an important role in the founding of the Society of Artists of Great Britain, where he exhibited during the 1760s before seceding to the Royal Academy of Arts, where he became a Founding Member in 1768. During the 1770s, Wilson's physical and mental health declined, reducing his capacity to create artworks. This led to financial difficulties, exacerbated by his increased drinking habits. He moved into modest accommodation, 1776 becoming the Librarian at the Royal Academy, a position reserved for struggling artists in need of supplementary income. He retired to Wales in the early 1780s, where he died in 1782.
  
  Despite falling into poverty and neglect towards the end of his life, Wilson is widely regarded as the central figure in the early history of the British landscape school." (Royal Academy Collection)
  
  Provenance: private Greenwood Village, Colorado, USA collection
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #178683

  Condition

  Painting shows normal wear commensurate with age with nice craquelure. It was probably relined in the past. An old label on the verso attributes this painting to the School of Richard Wilson and states that Wilson's "Lake of Nemi" was published as plate 126 in Colonel M.H. Grant's "The Old English Landscape Painters". It goes on to describe the theme, "Lake Nemi in Alban Hills, Italy. Nearby in ancient times were a grove & temple dedicated to Diana." Verso has darkened with age. Fit with old suspension wire which we would recommend replacing.
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