attributed to Richard Wilson

Lake, Ruin and Pine Trees

c.1765–70

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

Not on display

Artist: Attributed to Richard Wilson 1713–1782
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: Support: 686 × 889 mm
frame: 920 × 1110 × 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(41,310)
- ruins(3,714)
- - building(453)
- townscapes / man-made features(21,653)
- - building - non-specific(3,170)
  - townscape, distant(8,117)
emotions, concepts and ideas(16,531)
- emotions and human qualities(5,350)
- - serenity(35)
- universal concepts(6,403)
- - idyll(51)
nature(45,225)
- landscape(25,918)
- - wooded(8,258)
- natural phenomena(3,159)
- - reflection(710)
- trees(3,276)
- - pine(64)
- water: inland(11,140)
- - bank(760)
  - lake(1,816)
people(35,142)
- adults(22,742)
- - woman(9,059)
- children(3,393)
- - child(1,323)
places(41,571)
- countries and continents(17,408)
- - Italy(4,478)
- mythical, religious, fictional(263)
- - Arcadia(6)
- natural features (non-UK)(4,587)
- - Lake Albano(33)
  - Lake Nemi(40)

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 Apollo and the Seasons

date not known
Richard Wilson Lake Avernus

date not known
Richard Wilson Lake Avernus and the Island of Capri

c.1760
After Richard Wilson Lake Nemi with Figures Bathing

date not known
Richard Wilson Rome: St Peter’s and the Vatican from the Janiculum

c.1753

On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art
Richard Wilson Maecenas’ Villa, Tivoli

c.1765
Richard Wilson Hounslow Heath

date not known
Richard Wilson On Hounslow Heath

?exhibited 1770
Richard Wilson View near the Loggerheads, Denbigh

c.1765–70
Richard Wilson Hadrian’s Villa

c.1765
Thomas Gainsborough Sunset: Carthorses Drinking at a Stream

c.1760

On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art
Richard Wilson Meleager and Atalanta

c.1770

On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art
Richard Wilson Tivoli; Temple of the Sibyl and the Campagna

c.1765–70

In the shop

Browse the shop