Hendrik Frans van Lint, called Lo Studio

M.C. Picone, in Il paeseggio napoletano nella pittura straniera, exhibition catalogue, Naples, Palazzo Reale, 19 May - 22 July 1962, p. 63, n. 59;
R. Causa, in the exhibition catalogue  Civiltà del '700 a Napoli, 1734 - 1799, Naples, Museo e Gallerie Nazionali di Capodimonte, December 1979 - October 1980, vol. I, p. 333, reproduced fig. 2 (as by Pieter van Lint and signed and dated 1702);
N. Spinosa, Pittura napoletana del Settecento: dal Rococò al Classicismo, Naples 1987, p. 155, no. 265, reproduced fig. 357.

The canvas has a recent relining. The paint surface is a little flat, with the canvas weave is showing through slightly in the sky, but secure and in good condition, under a dirty and discoloured varnish. There are three small areas of paint loss along the lower margin and two above the signature lower right (as are visible in the catalogue illustration). Inspection under UV light reveals extensive retouchings to the sky and clouds, to the mountain and water far right and a handful of scattered retouchings and strengthenings to the foreground with just a small area of concentrated dark retouching work to the rock formation at centre (which is visible to the naked eye). Offered in an ornate gilt wood and plaster frame in good condition with a few minor knocks.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Although his views of Naples are rare, Van Lint painted this panorama on at least two other occasions. The first is one of a pair of views of Naples from 1725 which Busiri Vici records in the collections at Schloß Vizovice in Moravia.¹  Although the viewpoint is the same, in the other version the sailing vessels differ and Van Lint has introduced a quayside with moored boats and many figures into the left foreground.The second, much closer to the present work in design, was formerly in the collections of the Earls of Rosebery until sold in these Rooms, 9 December 1992, lot 57 (£65,000).²  The design may well reflect that of his fellow countryman Gaspar van Wittel, whose own view of the Castel dell'Ovo, painted a few years earlier in 1719, is now in the Palazzo Pitti in Florence.³

We are grateful to Dott.ssa Laura Laureati for endorsing the traditional attribution to Van Lint on the basis of photographs. She suggests that some passages may have been executed with studio assistance.

1. A. Busiri Vici, Peter, Hendrik e Giacomo van Lint. Tre pittori di Anversa del '600 e '700 lavorano a Roma, Rome 1987, p. 155, nos. 177 and 178, reproduced;
2. For which see N. Spinosa and L. di Mauro, Vedute napoletane del Settecento, Naples 1993, p. 189, no. 34, reproduced colour plate 13.
3. G. Briganti, Gaspar van Wittel, Rome 1966, p. 137, no. 261.