PIETRO ANTONIANI (MILAN 1740-1805)

The little we know about the life of Pietro Antoniani is based on a text by the Abbot Pietro Zani: 'pittor di vedute pittor di marine: Patria, Milanese: Merito, bravissimo: operava 1775' ('Painter of views, marine painter. Homeland: Milanese. Merit: Very good. Worked: 1775'; P. Zani, Enciclopedia metodica critico-ragionata delle belle arti, Parma, 1817-1824, cited in N. Spinosa and L. Di Mauro, Vedute napoletane del Settecento, Naples, 1993, p. 204). Antoniani is believed to have trained under Antonio Joli, whose paintings clearly served as a source of inspiration for the younger artist. Typically executed on a small scale, Antoniani's works were popular among British visitors to Naples. He often painted pairs or series for these tourists, such as the four pictures signed and dated 1776, formerly in the collection of Sir Joseph Weld at Lulworth Manor and sold Christie's, London, 12 December 1980, lot 99.

A very similar view of the Riviera di Chiaia was sold as part of another set of four views by Antoniani in these Rooms, 1 May 2019, lot 44, while a comparable view from the Punta di Posillipo was one of a pair of paintings sold Sotheby's, London, 7 December 2006, lot 245. No comparable views of the Torre del Greco with the eruption of Mount Vesuvius or the Crypta Neapolitana by Antoniani have appeared at auction in recent years.