Thomas Jones

This work remains in a well preserved state. The medium is strong and the paper has not discoloured. There is some occassional very minor surface dirt, particularly at the edges of the sheet. This work has not been laid down.
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Born in Trefonnen (Trevonen) in Radnorshire, Jones became a pupil of the landscape painter Richard Wilson R.A. (1714-1782).  He is now considered to be one of the most original landscape artists of the 18^th Century and his Memoirs are an extraordinary insight into his life in Wales, London and Italy.

Between 1776 and 1783 Jones was in Italy. He firstly lived in Rome, with his wife Maria and their two children, before relocating to Naples in March 1781. The family stayed there until they returned to Britain in August 1783.

The present drawing was executed 'on-the-spot' during the morning of 10^th May 1781. It shows the road leading towards Santa Maria de Monte, a monastery to the east of Naples on a ridge between Capodimonte and Capodichino. Other drawings by Jones of the same road are in the collections of the Whitworth Art Gallery and the Tate Britain, London.¹ A third drawing entitled Walnut Trees on the Road to Santa Maria del Monti, Near Naples was sold at Christie's London, 16^th November 2006, lot 23 (£42,000).

Jones appears to have particularly admired the sublime qualities of the landscape of this road. He recorded in his Memoirs that it was 'a hollow way ... which I discovered by accident in one of my perambulation – here may visibly be traced the scenery that Salvador Rosa formed himself upon – every hundred yards presents you with a new and perfect composition of that Master... this sequestered place was environed on all sides, with hanging rocks here and there protruding themselves from behind dark masses of a variety of wild Shrubs, and over-shadowed by branching trees.²

1. F. Hawcroft, Travels in Italy 1776-1783, Manchester 1988, nos. 119 and 120
2. 'Memoirs of Thomas Jones', Walpole Society, vol. XXXII, p. 102