Pietro Martorana

A) View of The Temple of Concord, Agrigento B) View of The Temple of Vulcan, Agrigento C) View of the Lake of Averno and The Temple of Proserpina near Naples

Lot Closed

January 14, 03:51 PM GMT

Estimate

1,500 - 2,500 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Property of the descendants of William & Robert Adam

Pietro Martorana

Active 1750 - 1799

A) View of The Temple of Concord, Agrigento

B) View of The Temple of Vulcan, Agrigento

C) View of the Lake of Averno and The Temple of Proserpina near Naples

All watercolour and gouache over traces of black chalk;

all inscribed, in pen and brown ink, on the original mounts, lower centre:

A) n^o. 43 Vue du Temple de la Concorde, à Girgenti

B) n^o. 44 Vue du Temple de Vulcain, à Girgenti

C) Vue du Lac d'Averno, des restes du Temple de Proserpine / a Naples;all inscribed on the back of the mounts: Si vendono da Pietro Martorana Pittore / al prezzo di Zecchini 5 l'uno Copie/ a Napoli

A) 443 by 655 mm B) 443 by 649 mm C) 440 by 640 mm

Sir Frederick Adam (1781-1853);
Offered, London, Sotheby's, 8 July 1998, lot 226 (A), lot 235 (B) lot 234 (C);
Offered, London, Sotheby's, 6 July 2005, lot 225 (B) lot 223 (C)

Theses grand views come from a collection formed by Sir Frederick Adam (1781 - 1853), whose distinguished military career found him at the age of only twenty-four commanding the 21st Regiment when it was ordered to Sicily in 1805. He remained there until 1813 and it may be presumed that these views were bought during this time, before he was given the command of a brigade sent to operate in the east of Spain, and his subsequent return to Britain in 1814. He was made major-general later that year, and went on to command a brigade at the battle of Waterloo.