The Temple of the Sibyl, Tivoli, c1754

The Temple of the Sibyl, Tivoli, circa 1754

Attributed Richard Wilson (1714–1782)

Brown crayon on laid paper, framed.

A finely executed 18th century brown crayon drawing depicting the iconic Temple of the Sibyl at Tivoli. This celebrated view with the round Corinthian temple dramatically perched above the gorge of the Aniene, accompanied by rustic architecture and a romanticised landscape was a favoured subject of Richard Wilson, a foundational figure in British landscape painting and one of the earliest to bring the classical Italian idiom into British art.

The present work relates closely to Wilson’s known compositions of the temple, likely dating to his Italian period (1750–1757). Though catalogued by a previous auction house as After Richard Wilson, the handling, composition, and technique strongly support an attribution to the artist himself. The use of brown crayon, the fluent draughtsmanship, and the atmospheric treatment of the landscape are all characteristic of Wilson’s hand.

Wilson’s views of Tivoli helped to shape the Grand Tour visual lexicon, influencing generations of artists and collectors. The present drawing may have been intended either as a preparatory study or a finished work for a discerning patron.

Presented in a modern oak frame with conservation mount. Some scattered foxing to the sheet, as expected for the period.

Provenance:
A Private Collection of Artwork, UK