View of Tivoli, oil painting

This is one of many paintings by Richard Wilson of Tivoli, an ancient city about 30kms NE of Rome. It depicts the Temple of the Sybil and the smaller, round, Temple of Vesta and is very typical of his style, displaying the influence of Claude's Roman Campagna.

Wilson was born near Machynlleth. His father was a clergyman and his mother the daughter of George Wynne of Leeswood and he was a distant cousin of Sir Watkin Williams Wynn of Wynnstay, Ruabon. Having been well-educated by his father he was familiar with the Classics. After the early death of his father he was sent to Leeswood under the care of his uncle, George Wynne, who arranged for him to be apprenticed to a London portrait painter, Thomas Wright. He was unsuccessful as a portrait painter and was advised to take up landscape painting. After several years in Italy studying landscape painting, Wilson set up a hugely successful studio in Covent Garden. He has been described as the first great British landscape painter and was acknowledged as a great influence by both Turner and Constable.

Wilson started out as a portrait painter but was unsuccessful and it has been suggested that other portrait painters, including Sir Joshua Reynolds, may have conspired against him.