View of the Apennines, Italy, Castle and Gorge, Antique Engraving, circa 1820

About this sheet

This antique engraving, a view of the Apennines in Italy, is an early nineteenth century London engraving, circa 1815 to 1830, showing a dramatic rocky gorge crowned by a ruined castle. The plate is lettered "View of the Appenines", with the old spelling of the mountain range.

The artist has built the picture around the romance of Italian mountain scenery: steep crags rise on either side, a waterfall tumbles into the gorge, and a castle stands ruined on the summit of a rocky outcrop. Along the road below, travellers pass with cattle and dogs, giving scale to the rocks and recalling the journeys of Grand Tour visitors crossing the spine of Italy between Florence, Bologna and Rome.

The plate carries no publisher's imprint and no names of artist or engraver. In size, lettering and manner it matches the Thomas Kelly plates found in this same group, and it is probably from one of the illustrated geographies or travel compilations issued in parts in London in the years around 1815 to 1830, although the publisher cannot be confirmed from the sheet. It is a line engraving printed in black and is uncoloured.

This Apennines engraving would suit a collection of Italian landscape prints or of picturesque mountain and castle scenery. Its strong contrasts of light and dark make it effective in a small frame, either alone or grouped with other Italian views in a hallway, study or reading corner.

The sheet is in good condition for its age, with light toning, a small spot in the left margin and a faint stain in the lower right margin; the image itself is clean.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed. Any framed or interior images are shown for presentation and inspiration only, unless the listing explicitly states that the item is sold framed.