View of the Bay of Naples
by JOLI, Antonio, Oil on canvas, 78 x 108 cm
This painting presents a view of the Bay of Naples from the south (possibly Poggioreale), looking north with a king of the Bourbon family, possibly Ferdinand IV, in the foreground. Joli was perhaps the most popular of the vedutisti working in Naples during the latter half of the 18th century, and it was his popularity in this particular field which led to his appointment in the court of Charles VII of Naples (1716-1788), and later Ferdinand IV (1751-1825).
Five other autograph versions of this composition are known.