Who painted View of the Islands of Nisida and Capri?

View of the Islands of Nisida and Capri was painted by Friedrich Salathé in 1819.

Where can I see View of the Islands of Nisida and Capri?

View of the Islands of Nisida and Capri is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is View of the Islands of Nisida and Capri?

View of the Islands of Nisida and Capri is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

View of the Islands of Nisida and Capri

Friedrich Salathé , 1819

View of the Islands of Nisida and Capri is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist Friedrich Salathé. It dates from 1819 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Friedrich Salathé’s drawing titled *View of the Islands of Nisida and Capri* dates to around 1819. Executed on laid paper with graphite and a brown wash, the work presents a quiet coastal scene that balances land and sea. The composition leads the eye from a foreground of modest hills and sparse trees toward a distant horizon marked by water and islands.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures the volcanic islands of Nisida and Capri as seen from a low viewpoint, emphasizing their gentle contours and the calm expanse of the Bay of Naples. By foregrounding natural forms rather than human activity, the drawing conveys a contemplative mood, inviting reflection on the enduring presence of the landscape.

Technique & Style

Salathé employs a restrained palette of graphite lines softened by a brown wash, creating atmospheric depth through tonal modulation. The delicate hatching suggests foliage, while broader washes render the sky and water, producing a sense of distance. The overall effect aligns with early‑19th‑century Romantic sensibilities that favored mood and the sublime in nature.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1819, the drawing is documented as part of Salathé’s early output, though specific ownership records are limited. It has remained within institutional collections, providing insight into the artist’s approach to landscape drawing during a period when travel sketches were popular among European artists documenting Italian scenery.