Pietro Antoniani Milan? 1740/50 - 1805 Milan

Another version of the view of the Bay of Naples was sold in these Rooms, 11 December 1991, lot 6, when it formed part of a series of six views of Naples and its environs. This view was signed and inscribed on the reverse describing the view in greater detail thus: veduta della punta di Posillipo del Lazzaretto, Nissita, Pozzuolo, Baja, Capomiseno, Procida ed Ischia.

Although Milanese in origin, Antoniani is thought to have trained in Naples under Antonio Joli, whose highly successful brand of vedute clearly strongly influenced his own. Many of his works are on a small scale such as the present pair, and found a ready market among British visitors to Naples, including the famous collectors Henry Blundell and Charles Townley. Antoniani also specialised in views of the eruptions of Vesuvius. See E. Martini, "Notizie su Pietro Antoniani milanese a Napoli", in Paragone, no. 181, 1965, pp. 81-86.