Tempietto del Clitunno - Barret, George, the elder (Irish landscapist, 1728 or 1732-1784) (My University, 2006)
This painting is one of a series commissioned from Barret in the 1760s by Thomas Taylour, the first Earl of Bective, to decorate his home at Headford in Co. Meath. The picture remained in the Taylor family for over 200 years until 2005 when it was sent for auction at Sotheby's Irish sale and then in 2006 at the Gorry Gallery. The building shown still exists near Spoleto in central Umbria, about 100 kms north of Rome. It was thought in Barret's day to be of ancient Roman origin, later converted to Christian use but, according to the catalogue note, it is now believed to have been built in the 8th century AD.
Keywords: Art, Irish; Landscape painting, Italian -- 18th century; Ruins in art; Temples Italy; Umbria (Italy) Antiquities; Tempietto del Clitunno (Campello sul Clitunno, Italy); 18th century