The Approach to the Forum

Details

David Roberts, R.A. (1796-1864)
The Approach to the Forum
signed and dated 'David Roberts R.A. 1860' (lower right) and inscribed 'Rome/Approach to the Forum/No 3' (on the reverse)
oil on canvas
18 x 36 in. (45.7 x 91.5 cm.)

Provenance

Painted for Richard Ravenhill of Clapham.

Literature

Robert's Record Book (217).
Joseph Miller to Roberts, 25 February 1856 (National Library of Scotland).
London Illustrated News, 1860, p. 544.
Athenaeum, 1860, p. 725.
J. Ballantine, The Life of David Roberts, R.A., Edinburgh, 1866, p. 203 (no. 239).

Exhibited

London, Royal Academy, 1860, no. 302.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

David Roberts had painted an Entrance to the Grand Canal, Venice for Joseph Miller in 1855 for £150, and it was after seeing this picture that the present work was commissioned by Richard Ravenhill. Joseph Miller wrote to David Roberts in 1856 informing him of his friend's reaction to his painting: 'My partner Ravenhill called here on Saturday and seeing your picture - like every one that sees it - was so much pleased with it that he determined "there and then" to go to you and see if he could coax you to do something for him.'

The present work was sold to Ravenhill in 1860 for £210. It was a version of an oil painting by Roberts executed in 1858 as a birthday present for his daughter Christine Bicknell. Roberts painted a number of views of the Forum itself and of individual ruins which were based on studies made during his visit to Rome in 1853.

We are grateful to Krystina Matyjaskiewicz for her help in preparing this catalogue entry.

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