Thomas Barker (1769-1847)
| Artist Name | Thomas Barker (1769-1847) |
|---|---|
| Title | Great Waterfall at Tivoli through Ponte Lupo |
| Description | This superb exhibited British 18th century Old Master Italian landscape oil painting is by noted artist Thomas Barker of Bath. Painted in 1794 and exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1796, the location is Tivoli. One has a close up view through the towering Pont Lupo, or Wolf Bridge, a Roman aqueduct built in 144 BC, to The Great Waterfall of Tivoli beyond. In the foreground are travellers on horse back talking to some locals who are gesturing the route. The warm tones of the surroundings in the foreground really contrasts with the misty, almost mystical waterfall in the sunshine in the background. A beautiful painting and an excellent example of Barker of Bath's early work. Signed lower left and dated 1794. |
| Provenance | Exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1796 no. 343 entitled 'A view of the Great Waterfall of Tivoli, seen through the Pont Lupo'. Purchased at Christie's, London 15th April 1994 (£ 22,000 hammer price)(£30,000 with fees) Galerie Christa Cackett - label verso. |
| Medium | Oil on Canvas |
| Size | 32 x 40 inches |
| Frame | Housed in a gilt frame, 46 inches by 38 inches and in good condition. |
| Condition | Good condition. |
| Biography | Thomas Barker (1769 -1847), (known as 'Barker of Bath,') was a British painter of landscape and rural life. There are six paintings by Barker in the Tate Gallery, including A Woodman and his Dog in a Storm (originally presented to the National Gallery in 1868) and several landscapes. The British Museum holds a number of Barker's drawings and prints. Three of Barker's paintings, Italian Landscape 1808, Landscape with a Waterfall and Landscape with Cattle are in Wolverhampton Art Gallery. |
| Price | £30000 |
