The Grotto of Posillipo at Naples

Antonie Sminck Pitloo, 1826

The grotto of Posillipo at Naples is a natural tunnel, 700 metres long and six metres high. The cave was a regular attraction for artists and tourists in Italy. Pitloo represented the passage as a narrow opening that swallows up the light. Closer inspection reveals a faint gleam at the far end of the tunnel. The dark cave contrasts dramatically with the sun-drenched rock wall.

  • Artwork typepainting
  • Object numberSK-A-4705
  • Dimensionsheight 52 cm x width 39.3 cm
  • Physical characteristicsoil on canvas

Identification

  • Title(s)

    • La Grotta di Posillipo near Naples
    • The Grotto of Posillipo at Naples

  • Object type

  • Object number

    SK-A-4705

  • Description

    Italiaans berglandschap met een gezicht op de grot van Posillipo bij Napels.

  • Inscriptions / marks

    signature and date: ‘A.S. Pitloo Depinto dal vero 1826’

Creation

  • Creation

    painter: Antonie Sminck Pitloo, Naples

  • Dating

    1826

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    oil on canvas

  • Dimensions

    height 52 cm x width 39.3 cm

This work is about

  • Subject

  • Place

Acquisition and rights

  • Acquisition

    purchase 1978

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    …; anonymous sale, Amsterdam (Sotheby’s Mak van Waay), 7 November 1977, no. 232, fl. 15,000, to the museum

  • Remarks

    Please note that this provenance was formulated with a special focus on provenance research for the years 1933-45 and could therefore be incomplete. There may be more (mostly earlier) provenance information known in the museum. In case this item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45, the Rijksmuseum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.

Documentation

Persistent URL

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