Caspar van Wittel: Dutch Master of Italian Cityscapes at Kunsthal KADE

Kunsthal KADE in Amersfoort presents 'Maestro van Wittel – Dutch master of the Italian cityscape', a monographic exhibition on Caspar Adriaensz van Wittel (1653–1736), pioneer of vedutismo and the Grand Tour. The show runs until May 5, 2019. Van Wittel, born in Amersfoort, studied under Gerrit Berckheyde, Jan van der Heyden, and Matthias Withoos, from whom he learned landscape painting and developed a fascination for Italy. His only known view of Amersfoort, from his youth, is on display. In Rome, he joined the Bentvueghels and worked with engineer Cornelius Meyer on hydraulic projects, adopting a rigorous geometric perspective using the camera obscura. His Roman views feature cloudy skies, perhaps nostalgic for the Netherlands, and depict everyday life. He also painted Naples, promoting its beauty for Grand Tourists. His method involved drawing within a pre-drawn grid using a camera obscura, then adjusting proportions and adding figures for a natural look. His work influenced Canaletto, who saw his views in Rome, and Giovanni Battista Piranesi. The exhibition contrasts van Wittel's lively scenes with the colder technique of later vedutisti.