“Tivoli and Maecena’s Villa” by William Havell

This superb oil sketch has only recently been fully attributed after the artist’s signature was located and identified at lower left. Havell was in Italy with his artist friend Thomas Uwins from 1828 to 1829. On returning to England he worked up small sketches done on the spot such as this into large paintings exhibited at the British Institution and Royal Academy. “Maecena’s Villa” was exhibited in 1830 at the Academy Summer Exhibition.
Our picture is painted in oil on thin card which would make transportation easy during the artist’s travels. We have framed it as a watercolour behind glass to protect it.