Not on display
- Artist
- Attributed to Richard Wilson 1713–1782
- Medium
- Oil paint on canvas
- Dimensions
- Support: 686 x 889 mm
frame: 920 x 1110 x 100 mm - Collection
- Tate
- Acquisition
- Bequeathed by Lady Sassoon 1956
- Reference
- N06267
Display caption
The motif of the temple by a lake recurs throughout Wilson's work as an image of Arcadian tranquillity. Temples were often used in this way in the landscaped parks of wealthy British aristocrats.
The lake shown here may be one of the mysterious volcanic lakes near Rome, such as Lake Nemi, known since antiquity as 'Diana's Mirror' because of its glassy smooth surface. Another possibility is Lake Avernus, near Naples, believed by the ancient Romans to be the entrance to the Underworld. The ruin evokes ancient Roman civilisation, while the still waters encourage quiet contemplation of Italy in the present.
Gallery label, September 2002
Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.
Explore
- architecture(42,293)
- ruins(3,854)
- building(469)
- townscapes / man-made features(22,284)
- building - non-specific(3,207)
- townscape, distant(8,380)
- ruins(3,854)
- emotions, concepts and ideas(16,945)
- universal concepts(6,517)
- idyll(53)
- emotions and human qualities(5,380)
- serenity(36)
- universal concepts(6,517)
- nature(46,527)
- natural phenomena(3,348)
- reflection(780)
- landscape(26,712)
- wooded(8,610)
- water: inland(11,673)
- trees(3,335)
- pine(74)
- natural phenomena(3,348)
- people(35,873)
- places(42,609)
- countries and continents(17,994)
- Italy(4,577)
- mythical, religious, fictional(266)
- Arcadia(6)
- natural features (non-UK)(4,904)
- Lake Albano(35)
- Lake Nemi(45)
- countries and continents(17,994)
You might like
-
Richard Wilson Landscape with Bathers, Cattle and Ruin
c.1770–5 -
Richard Wilson River View, on the Arno (?)
c.1760 -
Richard Wilson Lake Avernus
date not known -
Richard Wilson Apollo and the Seasons
date not known -
After Richard Wilson Lake Nemi with Figures Bathing
date not known -
Richard Wilson Lake Avernus and the Island of Capri
c.1760 -
Richard Wilson Rome: St Peter’s and the Vatican from the Janiculum
c.1753 -
Richard Wilson Maecenas’ Villa, Tivoli
c.1765 -
Richard Wilson View near the Loggerheads, Denbigh
c.1765–70 -
Richard Wilson On Hounslow Heath
?exhibited 1770 -
Richard Wilson Hadrian’s Villa
c.1765 -
Richard Wilson Hounslow Heath
date not known -
Thomas Gainsborough Sunset: Carthorses Drinking at a Stream
c.1760 -
Richard Wilson Meleager and Atalanta
c.1770 -
Richard Wilson Tivoli; Temple of the Sibyl and the Campagna
c.1765–70