Lot Essay
The significance of the twin towns of Vaprio and Canonica lay in their geographical position, at the confluence of the Rivers Adda and Brembo and the Naviglio Martesana, between Milan and Venice, and at a convenient distance from Milan to provide summer residences for members of the Milanese aristocracy. Vaprio in particular was one of the most popular beauty spots on the Adda. Leonardo da Vinci spent much time there in the years 1507-13 as the guest of the family of his beloved pupil Francesco Melzi, whose descendants still own the villa shown surrounded by cypress trees in both the present pictures. Vaprio was painted three times by Vanvitelli and its attractions were noted by Madame du Bocage, who stayed there in 1757: 'une orangerie en terrasses qui s'étend le long du chateau, y regne sur un canal navigable pour tout le commerce de Milan; & trente pieds au dessous, chose rare, coule l'Adda, rivière qui n'est séparée du canal supérieur que par un mur de douxe pieds d'épaisseur. Au bord de l'autre rive, s'élevent deux villages pleins de jolies maisons: au-delà une riche plaine, de bois & de riants côteaux menent en circle l'oeil aux Alpes, dont le sommet couvert de neige entremêlée de nuages, forme dans le lointain le plus admirable tableau' (Anne Marie Lepage Piquet Madame du Bocage, Recueil des Oeuvres, III, 1762, pp.142-3, quoted by Olivari, op. cit., p.76).
Apart from the present pictures, ten views by Bellotto of Lombardy are currently known, all measuring approximately 65 x 90cm., of which three also show Vaprio and Canonica. Two of these are larger versions of the views depicted in the present pictures; that looking north-west was sold in these Rooms, 30 November 1973, lot 100 (and subsequently published by Martini, op. cit., pp.83 and 539, note 292, and fig.234; it is signed 'Bernardo Bellotto detto Canaleto'), and that looking south was formerly in the Mario Crespi Collection, Milan (Kozakiewicz, no.87). A view towards the north-west from a different point is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Kozakiewicz, no.83; no.13 in the 1990 exhibition). The group also includes the pair of views of La Gazzada in the Brera (Kozakiewicz, nos.90 and 91; nos.17 and 18 in the 1990 exhibition), a replica of the first of these in the Kunsthaus, Zürich (C. Klemm, The Paintings of the Betty and David M. Koetser Foundation, 1988, pp.148-9, no.64), and two views of Milan, one, showing the Castello Sforzesco, in the Castle of Namest, near Oslavou, Czechoslovakia (Kozakiewicz no.82; no.16 in the 1990 exhibition), the other showing the Churches of Sant'Eufemia and San Paolo Converso (sold in these Rooms, 30 November 1973, lot 101, and published by Mauro Natale in the catalogue of the exhibition, Art Venitien en Suisse et au Liechtenstein, Pfäffikon and Geneva, 1978, p.187, no.167; see also the 1990 exhibition catalogue, pp.24-5).
Apart from the present pictures, ten views by Bellotto of Lombardy are currently known, all measuring approximately 65 x 90cm., of which three also show Vaprio and Canonica. Two of these are larger versions of the views depicted in the present pictures; that looking north-west was sold in these Rooms, 30 November 1973, lot 100 (and subsequently published by Martini, op. cit., pp.83 and 539, note 292, and fig.234; it is signed 'Bernardo Bellotto detto Canaleto'), and that looking south was formerly in the Mario Crespi Collection, Milan (Kozakiewicz, no.87). A view towards the north-west from a different point is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Kozakiewicz, no.83; no.13 in the 1990 exhibition). The group also includes the pair of views of La Gazzada in the Brera (Kozakiewicz, nos.90 and 91; nos.17 and 18 in the 1990 exhibition), a replica of the first of these in the Kunsthaus, Zürich (C. Klemm, The Paintings of the Betty and David M. Koetser Foundation, 1988, pp.148-9, no.64), and two views of Milan, one, showing the Castello Sforzesco, in the Castle of Namest, near Oslavou, Czechoslovakia (Kozakiewicz no.82; no.16 in the 1990 exhibition), the other showing the Churches of Sant'Eufemia and San Paolo Converso (sold in these Rooms, 30 November 1973, lot 101, and published by Mauro Natale in the catalogue of the exhibition, Art Venitien en Suisse et au Liechtenstein, Pfäffikon and Geneva, 1978, p.187, no.167; see also the 1990 exhibition catalogue, pp.24-5).