The Grotto of Posillipo at Naples, Antonie Sminck Pitloo, 1826
oil on canvas, h 52cm × w 39.3cm More details
The grotto of Posillipo at Naples is a natural tunnel, 700 metres long and six metres high. The cave was a regular attraction for artists and tourists in Italy. Pitloo represented the passage as a narrow opening that swallows up the light. Closer inspection reveals a faint gleam at the far end of the tunnel. The dark cave contrasts dramatically with the sun-drenched rock wall.
