THOMAS CHRISTOPHER HOFLAND | Castellamare; taken from the new road leading to Sorrento, Italy

Commissioned by George Wyndham, 4th Earl of Egremont (1786–1845); 
By whose Executors sold, London, Christie's, 26 November 1892, lot 116;
Anonymous sale ('The Property of a Lady'), London, Sotheby's, 6 July 1977, lot 97; 
With Oscar and Peter Johnson, Ltd, Lowndes Lodge Gallery, London (according to a label, verso);
Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 18 November 1992, lot 74;
Where acquired by the present owner. 

The canvas has a firm relining, the paint surface is relatively clean, and the varnish is slightly discoloured. No major damages are visible to the naked eye. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals retouchings in the darker pigments of the foliage: in the lower left corner, centre left by the bridge, and surrounding the group of figures lower centre, but there are otherwise few, cosmetic, scattered retouchings, and the painting appears in overall good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Castellamare (now known as Castellammare di Stabia) is a comune on the southern side of the Gulf of Naples, beneath Monte Faito on the Sorrentine peninsula. Situated near the site of the Roman town of Stabiae, which was destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D., in the late 18th century it became an important centre for shipbuilding and housed the naval arsenal for the Neapolitan royal family. In 1840 Hofland was commissioned by Lord Egremont to paint a series of views of Italy. Having never previously travelled on the continent he subsequently spent nine months in the vicinity of Rome and Naples, and on his return completed five of an anticipated series of twelve Italian subjects. In 1842 he exhibited a drawing of this subject at the Royal Academy, no. 948, which presumably served as the basis for the composition of the present work. Illness prevented further progress, however, and he died in January 1843. 

In 1892, when Lord Egremont's collection was sold, this was one of three paintings of Italian views by Hofland that were included in the sale. The other two being a view of The City and Bay of Salerno (lot 113) and a View of Naples – a sketch (lot 114). A fourth painting by Hofland, a sketch for his celebrated view of Jerusalem in the Leicester Collection at Tabley House, was also included in the sale (lot 115).