An Italianate mountainous landscape with herdsmen resting by a path and a man and a woman by a river

This picture has a distinguished provenance. Probably part of the celebrated Northwick Collection, one of the greatest of the 19th century, consisting of Old Masters and contemporary artists, prints, coins and objects formed by John Rushout, 2nd Baron Northwick. It was initially housed at Northwick Park, Gloucestershire, and later partly at Thirlestaine House, Cheltenham. Rushout died in 1859, unmarried and intestate, and his property was divided among his next of kin, who sold the collection together with Thirlestaine House, in a sale that lasted over twenty-two days. Much of the collection was bought back by the successor to the title, although many masterpieces from the collection were dispersed.

The present picture was purchased at the sale by Thomas Ware Smart (1810-1881), a businessman and politician from Sydney, Australia who amassed a large fortune in the 1830s as a land agent in George Street. He built a house at Mona, Darling Point on a fifteen acre site, where he lived in some style. He formed a collection of Old Masters, many of which were purchased from the Northwick Sale. Smart incorporated a separate picture gallery to his house, and in 1861 he opened the 'Mona Collection' to the public to widespread acclaim. The collection was inherited by his two sons, who decided to sell it at auction. The resulting sale of the 'Celebrated Mona Collection' was among the most important held in Australia at that time.