GPFA
76 SIR EDWARD JOHN POYNTER, P.R.A., R.W.S. Paris 1836-1919 London
This drawing dates from Poynter’s summer visit to Italy in 1898. At the time he was President of the Royal Academy, Director of the National Gallery and had recently been knighted.
Sacro Monte di Orta, Italy
The Sacro Monte di Orta is a series of devotional chapels on the hill of San Nicolae on the western shore of Lake Orta, northern Italy. The building of the chapels, dedicated to St Francis of Assisi, were begun in 1583 and 20 of the planned 36 were built, with the last being finished in 1788. A watercolour of Isola San Giulio, Lago d’Orta by Poynter, also dated 1898, is in the Yale Center for British Art.
Inscribed l.r.: Sacro Monte/Orta/Sep. ‘98 Pencil 178 x 133 mm., 7 1/4 by 5 1/4 in. Provenance: By descent from the artist in the Baldwin family until sold at Sotheby’s, 10th July 1995, lot 224, one of two; Private Collection, UK 87