Rome from the Tiber: St. Peter’s and Castel Sant’Angelo

Location

Country: Italy
City: Rome
Place: British Embassy

This view of Rome is by London and Twickenham based painter William Marlow. It was painted following his stay in Italy from 1765 to 1766. Rome was commonly the final destination of the Grand Tour (an educational journey undertaken by young aristocratic Englishmen in the 18th century). Consequently such paintings were popular souvenirs with those returning from the Tour.

Landscapist William Marlow was born in London or Southwark. He trained in the studio of marine painter Samuel Scott in Covent Garden (1756-61) and is also thought to have studied at the St Martin’s Lane Academy. Marlow spent his early career travelling around England in search of subjects; painting English country houses and the areas around Twickenham, Richmond, and the lower banks of the Thames. On the advice of the Duchess of Northumberland he travelled to France and Italy (1765-66). He exhibited at the Society of Artists, becoming Vice-President in 1778, and at the Royal Academy. Marlow lived for a time in Leicester Fields (now Leicester Square). His one pupil was John Curtis. In c.1785 he retired to Twickenham, where he died aged 72.

Places

Italy, Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica, River Tiber, Rome: Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome: Ponte Sant'Angelo, Rome

Subjects

rowing boat, topography, genre, townscape/cityscape, tree, river bank, river, hill, Italian, man, woman, bridge (urban), house, fortification, church, dome, gondola

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

William Marlow (1740 - 1813)

Title

Rome from the Tiber: St. Peter’s and Castel Sant’Angelo

Date

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 90.00 cm, width: 124.50 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Agnew's, July 1954

Inscription

Sbl

Provenance

With Agnew’s Gallery, London; from whom purchased in July 1954

GAC number

2812