Cardinal Neri Maria Corsini (1685-1770), Florence and Rome;
With Galleria Cesare Lampronti, Rome;
From whom acquired in 2007.

Ariccia, Palazzo Chigi, Castelli e Castellani. Viaggio attraverso le dimore storiche della Provincia di Roma, 19 July - 20 October 2002, no. 19;
Rome, Palazzo Venezia, Vedutisti, paesaggisti e pittori di architetture a Roma nel XVII e XVIII secolo, III Biennale di Roma, Arte e collezionismo a Palazzo Venezia, 25 October - 3 November 2002;
Rome, Palazzo Venezia, Pittori di vedute, di prospettive e di paesaggi nella Roma del '600 e '700, IV Biennale di Roma, Arte e collezionismo a Palazzo Venezia, 29 October - 7 November 2004.

F. Petrucci, in Castelli e Castellani. Viaggio attraverso le dimore storiche della Provincia di Roma, exhibition catalogue, Ariccia 2002, p. 52, cat. no. 19, reproduced pl. IX;;
M.C. Bagolan and T. Litteri, in Vedutisti, paesaggisti e pittori di architetture a Roma nel XVII e XVIII secolo, III Biennale di Roma, Arte e collezionismo a Palazzo Venezia, exhibition catalogue, Rome 2002, p. 70, reproduced p. 71;
M. Moschetta, in Pittori di vedute, di prospettive e di paesaggi nella Roma del '600 e '700, IV Biennale di Roma, Arte e collezionismo a Palazzo Venezia, exhibition catalogue, Rome 2004, pp. 56-57, reproduced;
F. Petrucci, in Paesaggio Laziale tra Ideale e Reale, dipiniti del XVII e XVIII secolo, exhibition catalogue, Tivoli 2009, p. 23, reproduced fig. 20.

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. The condition of this work is generally excellent. The canvas has a good Italian lining. There is no abrasion to the paint layer. There are a few retouches in the darkest waves in the foreground. Within the lighter colors of the water and in the architecture, landscape and sky, the retouches are very few and far between. It is only one area about 2 inches square in the upper left that constitutes any real restoration at all.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

Anesi was one of the most important paesaggisti working in Rome in the mid-eighteenth century and specialized in painting views and ideal landscapes inspired by the Roman campagna.  This painting depicts the coast of Lazio between Anzio and the town of Nettuno, seen in the distance at right, and provides the viewer with a near-frontal view of the magnificent Villa Costaguti, famed for its commanding location and gardens sloping down to the sea.  The painting, along with its pendant (see following lot), documents the papal visit in 1746 of Pope Benedict XIV to the city of Anzio.  In the foreground, we see part of the procession of boats carrying various dignitaries, being rowed in the direction of Anzio.  As with its pendant, it is the architecture and beauty of the coastline that dominates Anesi’s composition. 

Villa Costaguti, also called Bellaspetto, was built around 1650 by Cardinal Vincenzo Costaguti.  I🍃t was acquired by the Torlonia family in 1819 and, since 1832, has been owned by the Borghese family.  At far left can be seen the more modest Villa Pamphilj and the Arsenal (no longer extant).  The Villa Pamphilj was acquired⛎ by Camillo Pamphilj from the Cesi family in 1648.  It passed to the Borghese in 1834 and then to the Aldobrandini family.  In 1964, it became the property of the city of Anzio and today houses an archaeological museum.

Both this painting and its pendant belonged to Cardinal Neri Maria Corsini and are recorded in several Corsini inventories of the 18th century.¹

1.🦹  See F. Pe♉trucci, under Literature, 2002, p. 52.