'General View of the Environs of Naples', Dominic Serres

Artwork details

Artist

Dominic Serres (1722‑1793)

Title

General View of the Environs of Naples

Date 1787

MediumGraphite, watercolour and ink on paper

Dimensionssupport: 204 x 378 mm

Collection

Tate

Acquisition Purchased as part of the Oppé Collection with assistance from the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund 1996

Reference

T08269

View this artwork by appointment, at Tate Britain's Prints and Drawings Rooms

Display caption

The Frenchman Dominic Serres spent the whole of his working life as an artist in England, practising almost exclusively as a marine painter. In 1768 he was one of the thirty-six founder members of the Royal Academy.In 1791 he became Marine Painter to the King. The evidence for a visit by Serres to southern Italy is purely circumstantial. This watercolour shows the view looking from the east towards Naples across the Bay of Pozzuoli; the drifting smoke of Mount Vesuvius can be seen on the horizon. It is a modest gently coloured drawing which reveals a regard for subtle atmospheric effects… (read more)

September 2004