A view of Paestum, with Grand Tourists in the foreground

Gabriele Ricciardelli was probably a pupil of Nicola Bonito and Jan Frans van Bloemen. He worked for the Bourbon court at Portici and made several overdoors for the Palazzo Reale in Naples. Ricciardelli was exceptional among the Neapolitan view painters in that he spent part of his career in England and Ireland. Between 1753 and 1759 he was in Dublin and in 1777 he was recorded in London. His four vedute of Naples engraved by Antonio Cardon in 1765 had great success with the young English milordi.

According to Donna Paola Zancani-Montuoro this view is entirely accurate except for the steps leading to the Temples which were excavated this century (letter 3 December 1968).

The only other known version of this view was sold together with a View of Posilippo from Chiaia in these Rooms, 13 December 1996, lot 76 (67,500).