Lot 58: Thomas Jones (Trevonen, Powys 1742-1803 Pencerring, Powys) A shepherd and shepherdesses grazing their herd before the Cascatelle at Tivoli

A shepherd and shepherdesses grazing their herd before the Cascatelle at Tivoli with the ruins of the Sanctuary of Hercules Victor, formerly thought to be those of the Villa of Maecenas, in the distance
oil on canvas
38.2 x 52.7cm (15 1/16 x 20 3/4in).

PROVENANCE:
Acquired from John Mitchell and Son in the late 1970s by the present owner's father and thence by family descent

Jones will have been inspired to paint this view by his master, Richard Wilson, who was among the first British landscape painters to appreciate the unique character of the scenery around Tivoli. A large canvas by Wilson taken from the same viewpoint with an artist at an easel in the foreground is in the Dulwich Picture Gallery. Jones frankly modelled his work on that of Wilson. In a list of his paintings made in 1773-4 he mentioned 'a Copy after Wilson for my self' (Memoirs, p. 32) and the subjects of his Italian paintings were in some cases those of Wilson; and the extent to which he had been shaped by Wilson is indicated by a passage in his Memoirs (p. 55) written soon after arrival in Italy: 'Every scene seemed anticipated in some dream - It appeared Magick Land - In fact I had copied so many Studies of that great Man, & my Old Master, Richard Wilson, which he had made here as in Other parts of Italy, that I insensibly became familiarized with Italian Scenes, and enamoured of Italian forms, and, I suppose, inoyed pleasures unfelt by my Companions.' Indeed, Jones in 1785 told of making what he called 'a few innocent Impostures' in the shape of imitations of Wilson 'which passed among Our Connoisseurs at some of the public Sales for Originals - but this trade of Imposition was not suffered to last long, from the Jealousy of certain persons, whose province I had, by these Means infringed upon.'

Thomas Jones visited Tivoli between the 9th and 16th November, 1777. In his Memoirs he wrote at some length of his impressions of the place: 'Tivoli is a large town situated in a most romantic manner on the extremity of one of those branches or ribs of the Appenines which tends toward, and approaches nearest the City of Rome ... This Country, like that of the Latin's seems formed in a peculiar manner by Nature for the Study of the Landscape-Painter ... At Tivoli - the foaming Torrents rush down the Precipices into the deep Abyss with a fearful Noise and horrid Grandeur - The immense Masses of Stone rise abrupt - luxuriantly fringed with Shrubs, and crowned with antique towers and Temples - Where the perpendicular & hanging Sides admit of no vegetation, & you discover the naked Rock - the Eye is charmed with the most beautiful variegated Tints - White, Grey, Red & Yellow - opposing, or blending their different dyes together ... In short - Gaspar Poussin seems to have form'd his Style from this Country.'