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| Jean-Pierre Houël Stromboli Volcano erupting ca. 1776-79 gouache Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Jean-Pierre Houël Cyclopean Isles ca. 1776-79 gouache Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
According to curators at the Hermitage, these gouaches came into existence during an extended tour in the 1770s by French artist Jean-Pierre Houël(1735-1813). He was gathering views for a 4-volume publication of engravings ultimately published in Paris between 1782 and 1787 – A Picturesque Voyage Through the Isles of Sicily, Malta and Lipari, which deals with Antiquities Still to be Found There, the Principal Phenomena Offered by Nature, the Costumes of the Inhabitants, and some Customs. Over 500 highly finished sketches like these made the basis for the printed illustrations. Of these originals, more than half were sold to agents for the Russian court, which accounts for their presence in Saint Petersburg today.
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| Jean-Pierre Houël Cyclopean Isles ca. 1776-79 gouache Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Jean-Pierre Houël Islands of Vulcano and Vulcanello ca. 1776-79 gouache Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Jean-Pierre Houël Island of Vulcano from Lipari ca. 1776-79 gouache Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Jean-Pierre Houël Cyclopean Isles from the Bay of La Trizza ca. 1776-79 gouache Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Jean-Pierre Houël La Trizza Bay - Basalt Rock ca. 1776-79 gouache Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Jean-Pierre Houël La Trizza Bay - Basalt rocks ca. 1776-79 gouache Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Jean-Pierre Houël Ruins of Ancient Tindari - Sicily ca. 1776-79 gouache Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Jean-Pierre Houël Classical Ruins - Caccia - Island of Gozo ca. 1776-79 gouache Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Jean-Pierre Houël Classical Fragments - Island of Lipari ca. 1776-79 gouache Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Jean-Pierre Houël View of Mount Etna from Monte Rosso ca. 1776-79 gouache Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Jean-Pierre Houël View of Mount Etna from San Leonardo ca. 1776-79 gouache Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Jean-Pierre Houël Chestnut Tree - Slope of Mount Etna ca. 1776-79 gouache Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |