Pietro Fabris

Captain J.R. Heber Percy, Guy's Cliffe, Warwick;
By whom sold, London, Christie's, 3 May 1946, lot 32 (as 'G. Vanvitelli - Views of Naples - 23 in. by 35 in. - a pair), sold for £57 15 shillings to Webberley;
K.S. "Boots" Adams, Oklahoma, U.S.A., from whose estate sold in 2007.

"The following condition report has been provided by Henry Gentle, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. The canvas is lined and the paint surface is raised and secure. The stretcher marks are pronounced. The sky for reasons that are not entirely clear, has been over painted. Perhaps it is the prevalence of the natural dark shrinkage cracking. Glimpses of the original sky colour can be seen around the rigging to the ship on the extreme right and to the edge of the leaves to the tree to the left. Some augmentation to the highlights in the water are unnecessary and excessive. The houses and figures are in a good untouched condition with the finer details well preserved. The varnish is degraded and discoloured, its removal would improve the tonality. Offered in a gilt wood frame, in good condition."
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

Although traditionally ascribed to Vanvitelli (see the 1946 Christie's sale), this unpublished painting is by the Neapolitan view-painter Pietro Fabris. Active for most of his life in Naples, though he liked to define himself as 'British' due to his views and genre scenes being popular with those on the Grand Tour, Fabris was especially known as a vedutista and genre-painter. He exhibited some of his drawings and views of Naples at the Free Society in London in 1768, and in 1782 at the Society of Artists. Fabris was one of Sir William Hamilton's favourite artists and the British Envoy in Naples owned thirty-two works by him. Hamilton commissioned Fabris to produce illustrations for his Campi Phlegraei (published in Naples in 1776, the Supplement three years later) and in 1768 Fabris accompanied Hamilton on a journey to Sicily.

The view, taken from the west of the bay, was one which Fabris and other vedutisti turned to often for it gave them a panoramic view of the bay of Naples with Mount Vesuvius beyond. To the far left is a ruined building, perhaps a free interpretation of the Palazzo Donnanna; in the middle distance is the Riviera di Chiaia with the convent of San Martino on the Vomero behind; and to the extreme right is the Castel dell'Ovo with Mount Vesuvius smoking in the distance beyond. A similar view by Fabris, taken from a point slightly further away, signed and dated 1778, was sold London, Sotheby's, 24 March 1976, lot 13. Fabris painted another similar view, this time taken from a point closer in, signed and dated 1771, in a gouache belonging to Viscount Hampden, Glynde Place (Witt Library mount). The present painting is likely to pre-date both of these views and Prof. Nicola Spinosa, who has seen the painting at first hand, has suggested a date of execution around 1770 or shortly before.