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Valley of Terni with the river Nera after the waterfall of the Marmore and the village of Papigno

Maker

(artist)
1749-1831

Title

Date of Production

1749 - 1831

Medium

graphite and watercolour with scratching out on wove paper, laid down on card

Dimensions

Height: 23.4 cm
Width: 30.9 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.4489

Mode of Acquisition

Robert Clermont Witt, bequest, 1952

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords

Label Text

The Valley of Terni, in Umbria, was a highlight of the Grand Tour when Smith visited Italy in the 1770s. This finished watercolour, with its crystalline detail, was probably worked up in the studio from sketches made on the spot. The lofty viewpoint recalls earlier ‘world landscapes’, but the misty atmosphere and the dwarfing of the village by its surroundings place this watercolour within a Romantic tradition, evoking the awesome power of nature.

Notes

Smith spent time in Italy with his patron, the Earl of Warwick, from 1776-81. As a ‘colourist’, his use of watercolour is characteristically warm and saturated.

Provenance

P.J. (or G.) Henry (?); purchased from him by Colnaghi (London), 3 February 1951; purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b (verso), 29 March 1951, for £14; Witt Bequest 1952

Exhibition History

Drawings Gallery Display - Panorama, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 26/09/2015-10/01/2016

Literature

Blunt, Anthony, Hand-list of the drawings in the Witt Collection, London, 1956
p. 47

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: none.

Inscription: Verso (backing card): upper left, brown ink: "No 41" [could be 47]; lower centre, brown ink: "Terni looking towards Perugia"; lower right, graphite: "16 x 18 5/8"; lower right, graphite, Colnaghi number: "A. 18021"; lower right edge, graphite, partially obscured by remnants of adhesive: "Mount[...] & Tramins [?]". Mount (removed, see photo), Recto: lower right, graphite: "John (Warwick) Smith / 1749-1831 / Inscribed, Terni looking towards Perugia. / T.O.".

Collector's mark: Verso: lower left corner, stamped in black: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).

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