Artwork
View of the Gulf of Pozzuoli from Solfatara
View of the Gulf of Pozzuoli from Solfatara is an oil painting by Jacob Philipp Hackert. It dates from 1803 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This oil painting presents a sunlit panorama of the Gulf of Pozzuoli, observed from the volcanic area of Solfatara.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a panoramic view of the Gulf of Pozzuoli, seen from the elevated vantage of the Solfatara volcanic crater.
The painting depicts a panoramic view of the Gulf of Pozzuoli, seen from the elevated vantage of the Solfatara volcanic crater. Hackert's composition foregrounds the rugged terrain of the crater, with its fumaroles and sulfur deposits, while the gulf unfolds in the middle ground and background beneath a clear sky. A solitary goat appears near the crater's edge, adding a pastoral element that contrasts with the geological activity.
The work's emphasis on the interplay between volcanic terrain and the serene maritime landscape reflects the era's scientific and aesthetic interest in documenting natural phenomena.
Technique & Style
Jacob Philipp Hackert executed View of the Gulf of Pozzuoli from Solfatara in 1803 in oil paint on a woven fabric support. Classified as a painting, it measures 119.0 cm in height and 166.5 cm in width. The composition depicts the gulf and town of Pozzuoli under a blue sky, incorporating natural elements such as trees and a goat.
The German painter renders the Neapolitan landscape through traditional oil techniques on canvas, at a scale consistent with large landscape paintings of the early nineteenth century.
History & Provenance
View of the Gulf of Pozzuoli from Solfatara was painted by the German artist Jacob Philipp Hackert in 1803. Executed in oil on canvas, the painting measures 119.0 × 166.5 cm. It was owned by David Graham Carritt before being acquired by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains in the collection.
Overview
This oil painting presents a sunlit panorama of the Gulf of Pozzuoli, observed from the volcanic area of Solfatara. The composition integrates varied natural elements, including verdant slopes, rugged rock formations, and an expansive body of water under a clear sky. The artist's rendering evokes a serene atmosphere, characterized by a harmonious interplay of light and color across the expansive vista.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacob Philipp Hackert (15 September 1737 – 28 April 1807) was a landscape painter from Brandenburg, who did most of his work in Italy.
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