William Henry Harriott View of Tivoli, Italy

An original early 19th-century watercolour painting, William Henry Harriott, View of Tivoli, Italy.

A beautifully fine watercolour of a view at Tivoli by William Henry Harriott (c.1790–1839). Unlike typical views at Tivoli which focus on the Falls of the Aniene and Temple of Vesta, Harriott has taken a wider perspective which allows for extensive views of the campagna and charming, minute architectural detail on the horizon.

William Henry Harriott was a good friend of leading watercolourist John Sell Cotman. A clerk in the War Office, he would spend several months each year on the Continent where he would industriously produce a large number of sketches and drawings. Harriott's Continental drawings were often elaborately detailed, owing much to the topographical work of Samuel Prout—from whom Harriott received instruction at Dr William Glennie’s academy in Dulwich Grove.

Cotman admired these so much that Harriott allowed him to make tracings of them for his own use; Cotman writes: 'Mr. Harriott’s sketches of many parts of the Continent are before me – with the entire power, and perhaps permission, to make my own. They are very fine and ought not to be lost to the world.' With Cotman, Harriott moved in illustrious artistic circles, Cotman declaring 'Last night I had a party of twelve – the two Lewis’s, Cattermole, Harding, Cox, Harriott, Bulwer, Maw – the last, amateur – Starke, Cooke, Son(?) – What a sphere to move in! Such exalted talent!' (The Cotman Letters, Leeds Art Gallery).

Little is documented about Harriott's life or family, but it appears that his mother was the talented 18th-century miniaturist Diana Hill (c.1760–1844), whose second marriage was to Major Thomas Harriott. Hill travelled to India with her husband, where William was born around 1790, and where Diana became one of the most prominent miniaturists in India. The family returned to England in 1806 and took up residence at West Hall in Kew. William Henry Harriott died relatively young but Diana Hill lived into old age.

In watercolour on board. There are extensive colour notes on the verso.