Toscanella

THOMAS HARTLEY CROMEK
London 1809-1873 Wakefield

The façade of the Church of St. Peter, Tuscania, Italy

Watercolour over traces of pencil
383 x 474 mm., 15 x 18 ½ in.

Cromek's depictions of Tuscania or Toscanella as it was known until the late 19th century, are considered amongst his finest works. It is in the province of Viterbo to north of Rome. The artist first visited the village in May 1844 and it became a favourite place. He was particularly impressed by the two Romanesque churches, San Pietro and Santa Maria Maggiore. He recalled in his Journal: `Toscanella is the ancient Tuscania in Etruria….. It contains two remarkably interesting old churches of the 10th and 11th century very rich in ornaments; the porches are very beautiful