Lake Avernus and the Island of Ischia

The prime version of this subject, formerly in the Vernon collection, is in the Tate Gallery (no.304), and is the same size as the present picture (see W.G. Constable, Richard Wilson, 1953, p.195, no.72a and D. Solkin, Richard Wilson, exhibition catalogue, Tate Gallery, 3 November 1982 - 2 January 1983, pp.203-4, no.90). Solkin retitles the subject 'Lake Avernus, Monte Nuovo, the Island of Capri and part of Baiae' and points to the classical associations; he dates the Tate Gallery picture to circa 1760 and suggests that it may have been the work bought by Henry Hoare for Stourhead in 1760 as 'Avernus'.