Open full image Pin

Tivoli: The Great Cascade

Jonathan Skelton

1758

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Rococo painting Romanticism 18th Century

Dominant colour

Tivoli: The Great Cascade is a 1758 watercolor by Jonathan Skelton, a Rococo painting work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Jonathan Skelton
When & what style?: 1758 · Rococo painting
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This watercolour shows a scenic view near Rome. Jonathan Skelton painted it in 1758, during a time when British artists sold such scenes as souvenirs to travelers. The work was likely a quick study for a bigger oil painting. It reflects the Grand Tour trend—young nobles traveled Europe to see famous sights. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum for more Grand Tour art.

The story of this work

Overview

A watercolour titled *Tivoli: The Great Cascade* depicts the scenic waterfall at Tivoli near Rome, signed and dated by Jonathan Skelton in 1758. The work likely served as a preparatory study for a later oil painting, reflecting the artist’s role in documenting Grand Tour destinations. Skelton, active in the mid-18th century, contributed to the tradition of British artists recording European landmarks for travelers. The watercolour captures a notable site frequented by noblemen and gentlemen completing their education through the Grand Tour.

Read the full account in the museum source.