Thursday, February 16, 2017

Mediterranean Gouaches by Jean-Pierre Houël

Jean-Pierre Houël
Stromboli Volcano erupting
ca. 1776-79
gouache
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Jean-Pierre Houël
Cyclopean Isles
ca. 1776-79
gouache
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

According to curators at the Hermitage, these gouaches came into existence during an extended tour in the 1770s by French artist Jean-Pierre Houël(1735-1813). He was gathering views for a 4-volume publication of engravings ultimately published in Paris between 1782 and 1787  A Picturesque Voyage Through the Isles of Sicily, Malta and Lipari, which deals with Antiquities Still to be Found There, the Principal Phenomena Offered by Nature, the Costumes of the Inhabitants, and some Customs. Over 500 highly finished sketches like these made the basis for the printed illustrations. Of these originals, more than half were sold to agents for the Russian court, which accounts for their presence in Saint Petersburg today.

Jean-Pierre Houël
Cyclopean Isles
ca. 1776-79
gouache
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Jean-Pierre Houël
Islands of Vulcano and Vulcanello
ca. 1776-79
gouache
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Jean-Pierre Houël
Island of Vulcano from Lipari
ca. 1776-79
gouache
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Jean-Pierre Houël
Cyclopean Isles from the Bay of La Trizza
 ca. 1776-79
gouache
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Jean-Pierre Houël
La Trizza Bay - Basalt Rock
ca. 1776-79
gouache
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Jean-Pierre Houël
La Trizza Bay - Basalt rocks
ca. 1776-79
gouache
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Jean-Pierre Houël
Ruins of Ancient Tindari - Sicily
ca. 1776-79
gouache
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Jean-Pierre Houël
Classical Ruins - Caccia - Island of Gozo
ca. 1776-79
gouache
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Jean-Pierre Houël
Classical Fragments - Island of Lipari
ca. 1776-79
gouache
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Jean-Pierre Houël
View of Mount Etna from Monte Rosso
ca. 1776-79
gouache
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Jean-Pierre Houël
View of Mount Etna from San Leonardo
ca. 1776-79
gouache
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg
 
Jean-Pierre Houël
Chestnut Tree - Slope of Mount Etna
ca. 1776-79
gouache
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg