Giuseppe Zais, 'Landscape with a Ruined Tower', probably 1760-80
About the work
Overview
Figures placed carefully across the landscape lead us through the painting, from the peasants resting by a path to the rider and his white horse, and on to those walking towards a ruined arch and tower. To the right, a cow herder and his animals rest by the river while two women on the far bank wash clothes. Thick, expressive brushstrokes describe the people and animals; highlighted by the sunlight, they stand out against areas of shade.
This picture was once thought to be by Francesco Zuccarelli, whose work Zais clearly studied. Zais spent most of his career in Venice and painted scenes inspired by the Italian countryside; his Landscape with a Group of Figures and Landscape with a Group of Figures Fishing are also in the National Gallery’s collection.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- Landscape with a Ruined Tower
- Artist
- Giuseppe Zais
- Artist dates
- 1709 - 1784
- Date made
- probably 1760-80
- Medium and support
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 70.2 × 95.9 cm
- Acquisition credit
- Bequeathed by the Misses Cohen as part of the John Samuel Collection, 1906
- Inventory number
- NG2086
- Location
- Not on display
- Collection
- Main Collection
Provenance
Additional information
Text extracted from the ‘Provenance’ section of the catalogue entry in Michael Levey, ‘National Gallery Catalogues: The Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Italian Schools’, London 1986; for further information, see the full catalogue entry.
Bibliography
-
1956Levey, Michael, National Gallery Catalogues: The Eighteenth Century Italian Schools, London 1956
-
1986Levey, Michael, National Gallery Catalogues: The Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Italian Schools, London 1986
-
2001
C. Baker and T. Henry, The National Gallery: Complete Illustrated Catalogue, London 2001
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.
Images
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