Paolo Anesi

Cardinal Neri Maria Corsini (1685-1770), Florence and Rome;
With Galleria Cesare Lampronti, Rome;
From whom acquired in 2007.

Ariccia, Palazzo Chigi, Castelli e Castellani. Viaggio attraverso le dimore storiche della Provincia di Roma, 19 July - 20 October 2002, no. 18;
Rome, Palazzo Venezia, Vedutisti, paesaggisti e pittori di architetture a Roma nel XVII e XVIII secolo, III Biennale di Roma, Arte e collezionismo a Palazzo Venezia, 25 October - 3 November 2002;
Rome, Palazzo Venezia, Pittori di vedute, di prospettive e di paesaggi nella Roma del '600 e '700, IV Biennale di Roma, Arte e collezionismo a Palazzo Venezia, 29 October - 7 November 2004.

F. Petrucci, in Castelli e Castellani. Viaggio attraverso le dimore storiche della Provincia di Roma, exhibition catalogue, Ariccia 2002, p. 52, cat. no. 18, reproduced pl. IX;
M.C. Bagolan and T. Litteri, in Vedutisti, paesaggisti e pittori di architetture a Roma nel XVII e XVIII secolo, III Biennale di Roma, Arte e collezionismo a Palazzo Venezia, exhibition catalogue, Rome 2002, p. 66, reproduced p. 67;
M. Moschetta, in Pittori di vedute, di prospettive e di paesaggi nella Roma del '600 e '700, IV Biennale di Roma, Arte e collezionismo a Palazzo Venezia, exhibition catalogue, Rome 2004, pp. 54-55, reproduced;
F. Petrucci, in Paesaggio Laziale tra Ideale e Reale, dipiniti del XVII e XVIII secolo, exhibition catalogue, Tivoli 2009, p. 24, reproduced fig. 21.

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. The condition of this picture is generally excellent. It shows a few retouches in the darkest waves of the foreground and a few spots in the lighter colors of the water on the right side. None of the architecture is abraded or weakened. The only retouches in the sky are a concentrated group on the right side, a small damage in the darkest gray cloud in the upper right and a vertical restoration running about 2 inches from the top edge in the center and one other restoration about 1 inch square above the tower in the left sky.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

This striking coastal view depicts the port city of Anzio in the region of Lazio, about 32 miles south of Rome.  Built on the ancient site of Antium, it has been famed since antiquity for its splendid geographic location and was a favorite spot of wealthy Romans who built seaside estates there.  Like its pendant (see previous lot), this painting commemorates the visit of Pope Benedict XIV (fig. 1) in May of 1746 for a project to develop the port.  On the pier at left the figure of the pope can be seen, surrounded by various cardinals and prelates, as he is greeted by a kneeling fisherman.  In the harbor, the papal galleys fire canons to celebrate the occasion. 

Anesi has provided us with an extraordinary document of the architecture and layout of Anzio at the time.  At left is the Porto Innocenziano, built by Pope Innocent XII between 1697-1700 and designed by Alessandro Zinaghi.  In the hills beyond can be seen, from left, the Torre de Capo d’Anzio, the cube-shaped Villa Corsini and, at far right, the elegant façade of the Villa Albani.  Just below is the fountain, also built by Innocent in 1700 and designed by Carlo Fontana, which was demolished in 1872.  The Villa Corsini was built by Cardinal Neri Maria Corsini (see Provenance) in 1740, on the ruins of a Roman villa.  It was bought in 1870 by Pietro Aldobrandini, Prince of Sarsina, and re-named Villa Sarsina.  During WWII, the villa suffered severe damage and is now the property of the city.  The Villa Albani was built by Cardinal Alessandro Albani between 1728-35, designed by the architect Carlo Marchionni.  Acquired in the 19^th century by the Camera Apostolica (Papal Treasury) and used as a papal residence by Pope Pius IX, it is today a rehabilitation hospital.