Vico Equense

Finely executed pencil and watercolor drawing on paper, circa 1830/40.

The sheet, typical of the style of 19th-century Grand Tour travelers, was originally part of a travel notebook.

A splendid drawing of Vico Equense; the view captures the majestic rocky promontory on which the town of Vico Equense stands, dominated by its iconic religious and noble architecture, such as the Church of the Santissima Annunziata and Giusso Castle. In the foreground, the rocks jutting out into the water, typical of the Sorrento coast, are visible, while on the beach below (the Marina di Equa) are sketched several boats typical of the era. Clear period pencil notes, including the historic words "Castellammare" and "Vico," can be seen at the top and bottom of the sheet. These notes were used by the landscape artist to catalog the place during his travels or for his subsequent lithographic prints.

The drawing, likely from the English School, is unsigned, and we have not been able to identify the artist. He is one of the many cultured artists, travelers, or talented amateur draftsmen who visited Italy in the mid-19th century to immortalize its most picturesque landscapes. Works of this type - animated views signed by artists on the Grand Tour or in the early post-unification period - possess considerable historical and documentary value, as they depict the urban layout before the major building transformations and restorations of the 20th century.

In excellent condition.