An 18th Century View of the Quirinale Palace, Dutch School, 1744

A veduta of the Quirinale Palace in Rome during a formal procession. The piazza is in the foreground, with the Roman sculptures of the Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux, reining in their horses on the left. Known as the "Fontana dei Dioscuri" or Monte Cavallo statues, they flank a central obelisk.

The view of the Palazzo Quirinale from this prospective was a popular subject from the 17th century onwards: one of the first representations was by the Dutch artist Gaspar van Wittel (1653-1736) who was one of the leading vedute painters in the first half of the 18th century. His work, a mixture oflandscape and urban architecture, was very popular with travellers on their Grand Tour of Italy. The print illustrated here below, engraved in 1675-1711 by the Dutch printmaker and publisher Pieter Schenk (1660-1719) for an album of topographical views of Rome, shows an almost identical composition to the present painting. The inscription at bottom right reveals the name Johannes von der Stricht, a canon of Ghent in 17 40s. This detail suggests that perhaps the painting was dedicated to von der Stricht, or that it depicts the clergyman's visit in Rome in the year 17 44.

Provenance:
Anonymous sale, London, Phillips, Son & Neale, 23 February 1976, lot 49 (as Vanvitelli).

Ref: 6263

Make an enquiry via email here.
Call:+44 (0) 20 7730 2122

View all Antiques here.