Naples, from Mergellina

Pietro Fabris was one of the most important view painters working in Naples in the eighteenth century. His vedute met with remarkable success, and were in high demand with Grand Tourists and elite patrons in Naples, then one of the most populous and wealthiest destinations in Europe. Fabris, like few others, managed to capture the vibrant essence of the city. This fine, sweeping view of the bay – full of life and light – takes its viewpoint from Mergellina, with Vesuvius seen in the distance, which erupted numerous times in the eighteenth century. The promenade is busy, with street vendors selling their wares as the sun sets, while boats move serenely on the calm waters in the distance; to the right is a group of smaller boats, a reminder of Mergellina’s historic role as a fishing village.

Given the level of popularity and recognition he achieved, surprisingly little is known about Fabris’s life. It has been suggested that he was born in England, or may have travelled there at a later date, as he occasionally added ‘English Painter’ to his signature. His pictures were certainly known in London, where they were exhibited in 1768, at the Free Society, and in 1772, at the Society of Artists. His clientele in Italy included some of the key figures in Naples at the time; he worked closely, for example, with Sir William Hamilton, who served as British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Naples from 1764 until 1800 and whose residence, Palazzo Sessa, became a destination for connoisseurs, artists and writers, including Mozart, Vigée Le Brun and Goethe. Fabris accompanied Hamilton on expeditions to Vesuvius, observing and sketching volcanic activity, as well as producing geological studies. His illustrations for the Campi Phlaegrei and for the 1773 publication Raccolta di varii Vestimenti ed Arti Del Regno serve as significant records, underlining Fabris’s important role in documenting Neapolitan cultural history in the second half of the eighteenth century. Such attention to detail indeed can be seen here, as Fabris brings together with characteristic poise a variety of figures, each accurately observed and all from contrasting walks of life.