Ancient Ruins near Messina, Sicily

1842

Jean-Charles-Joseph Rémond

Associated Names
Jean-Charles-Joseph Rémond

Painter, French, 1795 - 1875

This painting depicts a coastal city viewed from an elevated perspective. Closest to us is the top of a hill; on the left side there are large green cacti and succulents on sandy, rocky ground, near the ruins of a sand-colored structure. A person in a red hat rests against the ruins. In the background on the right side of the painting, a cityscape at the bottom of the hill extends towards a blue body of water. The white and tan buildings below are packed closely together. In the distance there are more low mountains underneath a cloudy sky colored with light blue and muted peach tones.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    oil on paper on canvas

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Frank Anderson Trapp

  • Dimensions

    overall: 26.7 x 34.9 cm (10 1/2 x 13 3/4 in.)
    framed: 36.7 x 46.4 x 1.1 cm (14 7/16 x 18 1/4 x 7/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2004.166.32


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(James Mackinnon, London); purchased by Frank Anderson Trapp [1922-2005], Pittsburgh; gift 2004 to NGA.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1998

  • Paintings and Sketches 1780-1870, James Mackinnon (London) at W.M. Brady & Co., Inc., New York, 1998, no. 14, repro., as Ancient ruins above Messina, Sicily.

Bibliography

2006

  • Conisbee, Philip, and Franklin Kelly. "Small is Beautiful." National Gallery of Art Bulletin, no. 34 (Spring 2006): 2-17, fig. 9.

Inscriptions

lower right: Rémond; center stretcher bar reverse: 1842; on the stretcher: Ruines antiques audessus de Messine

Wikidata ID

Q20186974

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