A Souvenir From The Grand Tour: The Temple Of Serapis

The Temple of Serapis, Neapolitan school, early 19th century.

The Temple of Serapis is an ancient Roman market in the Italian city of Pozzuoli, in Campania.

The complex of buildings, incorrectly referred to as the “Serapeum” or “Temple of Serapis” following the ancient discovery of a statue of this Egyptian deity, is the Roman market (macellum) of the city of Pozzuoli.It consists of a large square courtyard lined with shops, adorned in its center by a monumental circular fountain, of exceptional size but of a type also found in the fish markets of other cities such as Pompeii or Morgantina.

This gouache is one of the typical souvenirs that young aristocrats brought back in their luggage following their Grand Tour.
The Grand Tour was a journey—a rite of passage in many respects—that young European nobles were expected to undertake from the 16th through the 19th centuries. It served to sharpen individual perceptions and refine one’s taste. Given its proximity to Pompeii and Herculaneum, Naples was an essential destination for these young travelers.

The inscriptions in the cartouche are difficult to read: “View of the Temple of Serapis…” and on the back, “Temple of Serapis.”

This gouache on paper is presented in a frame gilded with gold leaf.

Dimensions (image only) : 29.5 cm x 42.5 cm / Dimensions with frame : 37 cm x 50 cm


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