Michele Marieschi, 'Buildings and Figures near a River with Rapids', 1735-43
About the work
Overview
This painting, like its pendant Buildings and Figures near a River with Shipping is a capriccio, a scene made up of elements drawn from reality and fantasy. The cascade at the right and the colourful figures on the opposite bank – resting shepherds, elegantly dressed ladies, and a milkmaid attending to her cows – are typical features of pastoral landscapes. The two groups of trees at the sides are like a stage set, framing the composition and giving it a sense of balance and depth. A mountainous landscape lies beyond.
One of the pleasures of this picture and its pair is Marieschi’s use of paint: he has applied it freely and thickly, particularly in shaping the buildings. He has clearly enjoyed crafting a fantastical world of overlapping towers, rustic roofs, balconies, windows and turrets, all bathed in warm sunlight.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- Buildings and Figures near a River with Rapids
- Artist
- Michele Marieschi
- Artist dates
- 1710 - 1743
- Part of the series
- Two Fanciful Scenes
- Date made
- 1735-43
- Medium and support
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 61 × 92.1 cm
- Acquisition credit
- Bequeathed by the Misses Cohen as part of the John Samuel collection, 1906
- Inventory number
- NG2103
- 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
About the series: Two Fanciful Scenes
Overview
Buildings and Figures near a River with Shipping and its companion piece Buildings and Figures near a River with Rapids date from around the mid-1730s. Both show windmills and crumbling towers, and spirited figures gathered along the water’s edge on horseback and foot; both are surrounded by water – the sea, canals and rivers were a lifeline to those living in and around Venice.
Marieschi spent his early career in Venice but we know very little about his training. He began to paint vedute (view paintings) having been encouraged by the great success of his fellow Venetian artist, Canaletto, but these scenes are distinguished from Canaletto’s work by their exaggerated perspective, more atmospheric colour and loose brushstrokes. These capricci views – works that combine fantasy elements and reality – were likely inspired by those of Guardi, like A Caprice with Ruins on the Seashore (also in the National Gallery’s collection).
Works in the series
