Isaac de Moucheron

Rev. J. Allen-Jones, Llanyblodwch Vicarage, Oswestry;

Their posthumous sale, London, Christie's, 19 February 1937, lot 3 (as follower of Gerrit Berckheyde);

Edward Hutton (1875–1969), London;

Thence by descent to the previous owner;

By whom sold, London, Christie's, 4 July 2012, lot 226;

Acquired subsequently by the present owner.

This rare, previously unrecorded view of the Vatican by Isaac de Moucheron represents one of only eight known views by the artist of the Eternal City . Among these are another view of Saint Peter’s Basilica, four riverbank scenes along the Tiber, and two panoramic views of the city.¹

Following his training in Amsterdam under his father Frederik, De Moucheron travelled to Italy between around 1695 and 1697. He spent most of his time in Rome, specialising in vedute painting and absorbing the influence of his fellow countryman, Gaspar van Wittel (1652/3–1736), who was first recorded in the city in 1675. During his Roman sojourn, De Moucheron produced numerous outdoor sketches, later transforming them into signed, meticulously rendered drawings that often served as the basis for his painted compositions. Both a sketch of the Vatican seen from this general vantage point (though from a greater distance),² and a more refined drawing closely corresponding to the present painting are still extant.³ The latter has been dated by An Zwollo to circa 1708, suggesting an approximate date of execution for this painting.

¹ N. Wedde, Isaac de Moucheron (1667–1744), Frankfurt 1996, vol. I, pp. 429–31, nos P1–P7; vol. II, pp. 199–200, pls 198–200, reproduced.

² Wedde 1996, vol. I, p. 226, no. D16; vol. II, p. 53, pl. 11, reproduced.

³ A. Zwollo, Hollandse en Vlaamse veduteschilders te Rome 1675–1725, Assen 1973, p. 47, fig. 58, reproduced.

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