John 'Warwick' Smith (1749-1831) - Italianate Landscape with a Bridge and Castle

Through the patronage of George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick, Smith spent many years on the continent and particuarly in Italy. He was known to have resided there between 1776 and 1781 whilst making the aquaintances of the artists Francis Towne, Thomas Hearne and William Pars. Smith's work was certainly influenced by Towne and they travelled together across the Alps back to Britain in 1781. Later in 1785-86, Smith returned to Italy this time in the company of Lord Warwick. His Italianate scenes are amongst his best works and this watercolour appears to be from one of those trips. Equally, the bridge and castle could conceivably be an imaginary landscape, or a British scene from the Lake District or Wales, that Smith has expressed with his artistic license.
 
Medium: watercolour and pencil on paper.
 
14 x 23.5 cm, framed with inscription on mount.