Gaspar van Wittel, also known by his Italianized name Gaspare Vanvitelli, was a Dutch painter and one of the principal figures in the development of topographical painting in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Born in Amersfoort in the Netherlands in 1653, he moved to Italy around 1674, where he spent the majority of his career and where his style evolved significantly.
Van Wittel's work was highly influential in the genre of vedute, highly detailed, usually large-scale paintings of cityscapes or other vistas. He is known to have influenced the famous Venetian painter Canaletto, among others. Van Wittel was particularly adept at capturing the architectural and atmospheric qualities of the Italian landscape, his works serving as historical records of the appearance of many locations that have since changed considerably.
After moving to Rome, Van Wittel became associated with the circle of the painter Giovanni Paolo Panini, who was also known for his vedute. Van Wittel's work often included panoramic views of Rome, Naples, and other Italian cities, characterized by their accurate depiction and meticulous detail. He was also known for his precise use of the camera obscura, an optical device that helps artists render perspective accurately.
Despite his Dutch origins, Van Wittel spent most of his working life in Italy and is often more associated with Italian art than Dutch. He eventually became known as Vanvitelli, an Italianate form of his name, and his works were collected by Italian patrons and others who appreciated his distinct perspective on the urban landscapes of Italy.
Gaspar van Wittel died in Rome in 1736. While his works were somewhat overshadowed by the later fame of Canaletto and other vedute painters of the 18th century, his contributions to the development of topographical painting have been increasingly recognized and appreciated in art historical scholarship.
