St Peters and the Vatican from the Janiculum, Rome

The view is taken from a point on the Janiculum hill. On the left are the buildings surrounding the Piazza San Pietro, while on the right the prospect of the Roman campagna extends to Monte Soratte. Wilson first painted this view while in Rome c1753. Our version is a replica commissioned by the wealthy sugar plantation (and slave) owner William Young from Antigua (1725–88), who was then setting himself up as a country gentleman in Standlynch House, Wiltshire.