A View of the Villa Gallo, Naples, the fortress Sant'Elmo and the Carthusian Monastery of San Martino beyond

Pitloo left his native Arnhem in 1808 to continue his studies in Paris, where he worked with Victor Bertin, Corot's master. By 1811, he settled in Rome with Abraham Teerlink (see lot 245 in this sale), working at the Academie Franaise. Here he was influenced by the pupil of David, Francois Granet, depicting Roman vedute.
Pitloo accompanied the Russian Grand-duke Orloff to Naples, where he founded his own Academy. In 1824, he was appointed professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples. He became a central figure in the School of Posillippo, and exercised great influence upon the development of the Neapolitan landscapists, particularly the vedute painters. Pitloo never returned to Holland, and died in Naples. Other drawings were published by R. Causa, Pitloo, Naples, 1956. The present drawing and the following lot would seem to have been part of a series of drawings of the same technique and format. Only one other drawing with a view near Salerno is known in a private collection, Amsterdam.
The Dukes of Marigliano owned much property near Naples. Marzio, Marquess of Marigliano (1753-1833), later Duke of Gallo, built the Villa Gallo in 1809 and lived there after his retirement in 1821