Carlo Bonavia (active Naples 1751-1788)
Carlo Bonavia (active Naples 1751-1788)

A harbor at dawn with fishermen embarking from the shore; and A harbor at dusk with fishermen tying up nets and coming ashore

Details
Carlo Bonavia (active Naples 1751-1788)
A harbor at dawn with fishermen embarking from the shore; and A harbor at dusk with fishermen tying up nets and coming ashore
the first with signature and date 'CJ Vernet A 1757' (lower right); the second with signature and date 'J Vernet A 1756' (lower right)
oil on canvas
25¾ x 40 in. (65.4 x 101.6 cm.)
a pair (2)
Provenance
Lord Huntingfield, Heveningham Hall, Yoxford, Suffolk; + Christie's, London, 25 June 1915, lot 124, as 'H. Vernet' (100 gns. to Huntingfield).
Sale room notice
Please note that the provenance listed in the catalogue should read:
Lord Huntingfield, Heveningham Hall, Yoxford, Suffolk; his estate sale, Christie's, London, 25 June 1915, lot 124, as 'Vernet' (100 gns. to Huntingfield).

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Lot Essay

Bonavia was a Neapolitan follower of Claude-Joseph Vernet. Vernet worked in Naples intermittently between 1736-1746 and the circle of artists he influenced includes not only Bonavia, but Pierre-Jacques Volaire, Alexandre-Jean Noël, Lacroix de Marseilles and Francesco Fidanza. Bonavia could be a slavish copier of Vernet's compositions, especially in his early career, and sometimes the two artists' works were confused -- as the later inscriptions of Vernet's name on the present paintings indicate. However, Bonavia created his own distinctive style, especially evident in his pastel palette and chalky finish, which differs significantly from that of Vernet. Bonavia achieved renown in his lifetime -- for example, Karl Joseph Firmian, the Austrian ambassador to Naples from 1753-58 is documented as having acquired seventeen works by the artist.

We are grateful to Professor Giancarlo Sestieri for confirming the attribution to Bonavia, on the basis of photographs (private communication, 17 April 2011).

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