Tempera On Paper Depicting Villa Sommariva (now Villa Carlotta), Lake Como, Second Half
Artist: Nord De L'italie, Seconde Moitié Du Xixe Siècle
Northern Italy, second half of the 19th century
Villa Sommariva (now Villa Carlotta)
Tempera on paper, 16 × 21 cm
Frame: 32 × 42 cm
Condition: good. Slight signs of age and the painting technique, consistent with the period. A tear in the upper right corner.
A delicate perspective view of Villa Sommariva, now Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo on Lake Como, also identified by the handwritten inscription on the reverse. The composition captures one of the most famous vantage points in the iconography of the Lake Como region: the villa viewed from the lake, with its monumental neoclassical façade, the terraced garden punctuated by the striking central double staircase, and the mountains of the western shore serving as a backdrop.
In the foreground, the painter brings the lake’s surface to life with several traditional boats, a typical element of nineteenth-century views of Lake Como intended for Grand Tour travelers. The work, executed in tempera on paper, favors a clear and luminous color palette, employing a topographical style that combines descriptive precision with decorative appeal.
This view is part of the vast body of artistic souvenirs of Lake Como produced in the 19th century for the growing international tourism industry. After the Napoleonic era and throughout the 19th century, Lake Como became one of the favorite destinations of the Grand Tour, attracting European aristocrats, collectors, and travelers who sought engravings, watercolors, tempera paintings, and gouaches depicting the lake’s most famous villas.
The quality of this composition is reminiscent of the topographical views prevalent between the 1830s and 1870s, in which documentary interest is combined with a refined sensibility for landscape. Similar works are found in the output of artists active on Lake Como, including Giuseppe Bisi, the creator of important views of Villa Sommariva, as well as in the work of numerous Lombard landscape painters and workshops specializing in the production of gouaches for the travelers’ market. A famous View of Villa Sommariva painted by Giuseppe Bisi in 1822, now housed at Villa Carlotta, depicts the same vantage point overlooking the lake, confirming the iconographic popularity of this subject.
The villa was built in the late 17th century for the Clerici family and purchased in 1801 by Count Giovan Battista Sommariva, an influential politician and refined art collector of the Napoleonic era. Under his ownership, the palace was expanded and transformed into one of the most prestigious residences in northern Italy, enriched by a famous collection of sculptures by Antonio Canova, Bertel Thorvaldsen, and other leading figures of Neoclassicism.
In 1843, the property passed to Marianna of Orange-Nassau, and in 1850, it was given to her daughter, Charlotte of Prussia, on the occasion of her marriage to George II of Saxe-Meiningen: since then, the residence has been known as Villa Carlotta, the name by which it is universally recognized.
Today, Villa Carlotta stands as one of the most important Italian monumental complexes overlooking Lake Como. Managed by the Villa Carlotta Foundation, it preserves the historic interiors of the residence, a significant collection of neoclassical and Romantic sculpture, and the famous botanical garden, known worldwide for its spectacular spring blooms of azaleas, rhododendrons, and camellias. The complex is one of the main cultural and scenic destinations on Lake Como.
Nineteenth-century views of Lake Como are now highly sought after by collectors for their dual documentary and decorative value. The tempera painting in question stands out for its pictorial quality, rarity, and connection to the culture of the Grand Tour, representing a valuable testament to the international popularity of the Como landscape in the 19th century.
- All our works are accompanied by a detailed certificate of authenticity.
- Professional packaging and insured shipping to ensure maximum safety during transport.
- For further information, please do not hesitate to contact us +39 329 319 4887 – info@dequart.com
- Option for VIDEO CALLS and in-person viewings by appointment in MILAN and BORGOMANERO (NO).
- Additional information and photos: www.dequart.com IG - FB @dequ.art
Villa Sommariva (now Villa Carlotta)
Tempera on paper, 16 × 21 cm
Frame: 32 × 42 cm
Condition: good. Slight signs of age and the painting technique, consistent with the period. A tear in the upper right corner.
A delicate perspective view of Villa Sommariva, now Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo on Lake Como, also identified by the handwritten inscription on the reverse. The composition captures one of the most famous vantage points in the iconography of the Lake Como region: the villa viewed from the lake, with its monumental neoclassical façade, the terraced garden punctuated by the striking central double staircase, and the mountains of the western shore serving as a backdrop.
In the foreground, the painter brings the lake’s surface to life with several traditional boats, a typical element of nineteenth-century views of Lake Como intended for Grand Tour travelers. The work, executed in tempera on paper, favors a clear and luminous color palette, employing a topographical style that combines descriptive precision with decorative appeal.
This view is part of the vast body of artistic souvenirs of Lake Como produced in the 19th century for the growing international tourism industry. After the Napoleonic era and throughout the 19th century, Lake Como became one of the favorite destinations of the Grand Tour, attracting European aristocrats, collectors, and travelers who sought engravings, watercolors, tempera paintings, and gouaches depicting the lake’s most famous villas.
The quality of this composition is reminiscent of the topographical views prevalent between the 1830s and 1870s, in which documentary interest is combined with a refined sensibility for landscape. Similar works are found in the output of artists active on Lake Como, including Giuseppe Bisi, the creator of important views of Villa Sommariva, as well as in the work of numerous Lombard landscape painters and workshops specializing in the production of gouaches for the travelers’ market. A famous View of Villa Sommariva painted by Giuseppe Bisi in 1822, now housed at Villa Carlotta, depicts the same vantage point overlooking the lake, confirming the iconographic popularity of this subject.
The villa was built in the late 17th century for the Clerici family and purchased in 1801 by Count Giovan Battista Sommariva, an influential politician and refined art collector of the Napoleonic era. Under his ownership, the palace was expanded and transformed into one of the most prestigious residences in northern Italy, enriched by a famous collection of sculptures by Antonio Canova, Bertel Thorvaldsen, and other leading figures of Neoclassicism.
In 1843, the property passed to Marianna of Orange-Nassau, and in 1850, it was given to her daughter, Charlotte of Prussia, on the occasion of her marriage to George II of Saxe-Meiningen: since then, the residence has been known as Villa Carlotta, the name by which it is universally recognized.
Today, Villa Carlotta stands as one of the most important Italian monumental complexes overlooking Lake Como. Managed by the Villa Carlotta Foundation, it preserves the historic interiors of the residence, a significant collection of neoclassical and Romantic sculpture, and the famous botanical garden, known worldwide for its spectacular spring blooms of azaleas, rhododendrons, and camellias. The complex is one of the main cultural and scenic destinations on Lake Como.
Nineteenth-century views of Lake Como are now highly sought after by collectors for their dual documentary and decorative value. The tempera painting in question stands out for its pictorial quality, rarity, and connection to the culture of the Grand Tour, representing a valuable testament to the international popularity of the Como landscape in the 19th century.
- All our works are accompanied by a detailed certificate of authenticity.
- Professional packaging and insured shipping to ensure maximum safety during transport.
- For further information, please do not hesitate to contact us +39 329 319 4887 – info@dequart.com
- Option for VIDEO CALLS and in-person viewings by appointment in MILAN and BORGOMANERO (NO).
- Additional information and photos: www.dequart.com IG - FB @dequ.art
860 €
Period: 19th century
Style: Art Nouveau
Condition: Some repairs
Material: Paper
Length: 16
Width: 21
Reference (ID): 1798569
Availability: In stock
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