The Darsena, Naples

This view of the Darsena was evidently Vanvitelli's most popular composition to judge from the number of versions known. Dated examples range from 1702, in the Museo di San Martino, Naples (G. Briganti, Gaspar van Wittel e l'origine della veduta settecentesca, Rome, 1966, p. 246, pl. 191, 'E la più antica delle vedute datate della Darsena, ma non necessariamente la prima.') to 1718, the picture sold at Sotheby's, London, 19 April 1989, lot 18 (N. Spinosa and L. DiMauro, Vedute napoletane del Settecento, Naples, 1989, p. 189, no. 30, pl. 11). All of the autograph versions differ in format, perspective, and in the number and placement of the boats, figures and other minor details. Vanvitelli chose to submit this view for his admission into the Accademia di San Luca in October 1711, and as both Briganti (op. cit., p. 247, no. 195) and Spinosa, loc. cit., point out, the version in the Galleria Sabauda in Turin, which is dated 1711, is probably this picture. Mariella Utili relates the present picture to those in a private collection, Naples (op. cit., p. 174, illustrated) and the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin.

A related drawing is in the Museo di San Martino, Naples (Spinosa, loc. cit., 1987).