拍品專文
A man of diverse talents - a draughtsman, mathematician, printmaker and architect as well as a painter - Carlevarijs is the most notable view painter of the Venetian school in the generation before Canaletto. It is possible that he visited Rome around the turn of the century, to judge from the evident influence of the Bamboccianti and Gaspare Vanvitelli, which is particularly apparent in the capricci, or imaginary views, that he began to paint at around this time. On his return to Venice, he evolved a more realistic style, largely inspired by the topography of the city.
The present painting can probably be dated to circa 1712-4 by comparison with the artist's Capriccio View of the Ponte Rotto in the Accademia dei Concordi, Rovigo (A. Rizzi, Luca Carlevarijs, 1967, p. 94, pls. 73-4). The form of the signature is also identical to that on the Capriccio View of a Port, dated 1714, in a Roman private collection (ibid., p. 94, pl. 71) and to the River Landscape with a Capriccio View of the Ponte Rotto sold at Christie's, London, July 5, 1991, lot 106 (225,500=$358,500). The almost identical measurements of the painting sold at Christie's, London (40.7/8 x 69in.) to the present lot suggests they may be a pair. The various buildings and ruins shown in the present painting were to become characteristic motifs in Carlevarijs's capricci. In the right foreground, the columns surmounted by a foliage-covered entablature recall the so-called Temple of Castor and Pollux in the Roman Forum, while the ruins behind were probably inspired by the Baths of Caracalla in Rome.
The present painting can probably be dated to circa 1712-4 by comparison with the artist's Capriccio View of the Ponte Rotto in the Accademia dei Concordi, Rovigo (A. Rizzi, Luca Carlevarijs, 1967, p. 94, pls. 73-4). The form of the signature is also identical to that on the Capriccio View of a Port, dated 1714, in a Roman private collection (ibid., p. 94, pl. 71) and to the River Landscape with a Capriccio View of the Ponte Rotto sold at Christie's, London, July 5, 1991, lot 106 (225,500=$358,500). The almost identical measurements of the painting sold at Christie's, London (40.7/8 x 69in.) to the present lot suggests they may be a pair. The various buildings and ruins shown in the present painting were to become characteristic motifs in Carlevarijs's capricci. In the right foreground, the columns surmounted by a foliage-covered entablature recall the so-called Temple of Castor and Pollux in the Roman Forum, while the ruins behind were probably inspired by the Baths of Caracalla in Rome.