- 175
John 'Warwick' Smith
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
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Description
- John 'Warwick' Smith
- Entrance to the grotto of posillipo, Naples
- Watercolour over pencil, on laid paper;
signed verso: Naples / JSmith 250 - 230 by 335 mm
Provenance
Dudley Snelgrove, F.S.A.;
his sale, London, Sotheby's, 19 November 1992, lot 193
his sale, London, Sotheby's, 19 November 1992, lot 193
Condition
This watercolour has been well preserved and the colours remain strong. Throughout the verso of the sheet, there appear to be scattered paint spots, which may be associated with the artist. Some of these marks are visible on close inspection recto. The sheet has not been laid down.
For further information on this lot please contact Mark Griffith-Jones on 0207 293 5083 or mark.griffithjones@sothebys.com
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
Like many artists of his generation Smith was drawn to Italy, where he was to remain from 1776 to 1781. First settling in Rome, by March 1778 he had relocated to Naples, where he spent the next sixteen months. While there he made many a sketching excursion. The Grotto of Posillipo, with its man-made passageway cut through the rock and its association with Virgil’s tomb, became a favoured subject. Another version of this drawing, formerly in Paul Oppé’s collection, was engraved for Smith’s Select Views in Italy, 1792.