Pierre-Athanase Chauvin (Paris 1774-1832 Rome)

The present lot shares the same landscape with Chauvin's picture of 1819 in the Musée d'Amboise, which depicts the entry of Charles VIII into Acquapendante in 1494. This was considered as one of Chauvin's most important works, it was commissioned by King Louis XVIII for the Gallery of Diane at the castle of Fontainebleau. It recounts an episode during Charles VIII's invasion of Italy in September 1494. He marched across the peninsula with 25,000 men and encountered virtually no opposition, reaching Naples on 22 February 1495. Alfonso II was expelled and Charles was crowned King of Naples. The present lot revisits the same landscape and architectural background, with different figures in the foreground.

In 1813, Chauvin settled in Rome and became a member of the Accademia di San Luca. Chauvin’s views of Italy were popular with French and Russian patrons who were on their Grand Tour and placed orders with Chauvin, as is probably the case with the present lot.