Antonio del Drago

Probably Charles Hippolyte, Vicomte Vilain XIIII (1796-1873),

His son Adrien Stanislas Paul Ghislain, Vicomte Vilain XIIII (1861-1940),

His daughter Marie-Thérèse Ernestine Alphonsine Vilain XIIII (1894-1950),

Thence by descent to the present owners

A number of signed watercolours by del Drago showing similar views are preserved in the Devonshire Collection at Chatsworth. The artist is unrecorded, but he was active in Rome towards the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century - one of many who worked to satisfy the enormous demand for views of this type from travelers on the Grand Tour.

These works have been owned since the late 18th or early 19th century by the Vilain XIIII family, the only known example of a family whose name incorporates Roman numerals. This unusual name is recorded from the beginning of the 17th century, but probably originated even earlier. The collection was chiefly formed by Charles (known as 'Hippolyte') Vilan XIIII (1796-1873), largely in Italy between 1830 and 1840, when the Vicomte represented the Belgian crown at Turin, Parma, Lucca and at the court of the King of Naples. The collection was not, though, solely devoted to Italian art, including works from all European schools, acquired both at home and abroad. 83 drawings from the Vilain XIIII collection were sold at Sotheby's in London, on 11 June 1981, but the present drawing has passed directly from the historic Vilain XIIII collection to the present owners.