Xavier della Gatta | Costumes of Naples, 1822, album of watercolours, green morocco gilt

Xavier della Gatta

Costumes of Naples 1822

A collection of 35 watercolour drawings, each approximately 288 x 190mm. and 170 x 120mm., some signed ("Xav. Della Gatta", "X. della Gatta 1822"), some with pencil captions on mounts, mounted in a folio album, folio (495 x 370mm.), contemporary green morocco tooled in gilt and blind, gilt lettering "Costumes of Naples 1822" on upper cover, one mount torn and crudely repaired, binding somewhat worn

The album comprises: a view of Naples from the harbour (not signed); seven small vertical watercolours, each containing two figures; 27 larger horizontal watercolours of multiple figures, each of which is signed and dated 1822 and numbered in sequence.

Xavier della Gatta was a Neapolitan artist who specialised in producing views of the city and its people for tourists and travellers; he also produced drawings of Vesuvius for Sir William Hamilton and was an artist to the royal court in Naples.

PROVENANCE:

John Gray, 15th Lord Gray (1798-1867), Kinfauns Castle, Perthshire, armorial bookplate