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The Bay of Naples with Mounts Vesuvius and Somma

Giovanni Battista Lusieri

National Gallery of Art

The image depicts a coastal cityscape with distant mountains. The horizon is just above the center, dividing the city and bay from the sky. Detailed brushstrokes are visible, especially in the buildings and clouds. The color palette is soft, with pale blues and grays in the sky and earthy browns and beiges in the city and mountains. A sailboat is in the water, with the city extending to the right and mountains in the background, partly covered by clouds. The scene is serene and picturesque, showcasing the beauty of a coastal city under a clear sky.

Artwork Details

Date
1782/1794
Medium
watercolor with pen and black ink over graphite on laid paper mounted to paperboard
Dimensions
6203 × 4169 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
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