Lot 1893 Dα

Roundel shaped composition with spandrel corners, framed in a circular mount.
A charming Italian landscape representing a waterfall on the river Po, by the Welsh landscape artist and Royal Academist Richard Wilson. At least five versions of this composition are known, of which four are circular in format. Freely executed, bright of colour, and unique in details, such as the angle of the falls - this stands as perhaps one of the earlier versions and something of an exception in Wilson’s autograph oeuvre. It is to be suggested it is perhaps an upgraded preparatory oil-sketch.
Wilson’s use of a small roundel shape is unique in his paintings and it has been suggested that he had a particular prototype by Gaspard Dughet in mind (A. French, Gaspar Dughet called Gaspar Poussin 1615-75, exh. cat., Kenwood, London, 1980, pp. 88-89, no. 73).
Amongst its impressive provenance, it is noted that this painting was once in the possession of Miss P. Woolner - almost certainly Phyllis, daughter of Thomas Woolner, the Pre-Raphaelite sculptor, who was herself a painter. Also subsequently in the Greenlees collection; Ian Greenlees (1913-1988) was Deputy Representative of the British Council, Rome and Director of the British Institute, Florence, Bagni di Lucca.