Raphael's residence in the Roman campagna, 27 March 1827

Penry Williams (1802 - 1885)

RA Collection: Art

A pencil and watercolour sketch of Raphael's house in the Roman campagna, drawn on a letter from Penry Williams to Sir Thomas Lawrence.

Williams writes "I avail myself of this opportunity - kindly offered me by Mr P. Cammucini [sic] to send you two little sketches; the scenes I have chosen more for the history attached to them than anything particularly striking in themselves, the annexed having been the residence of Raphael and the other of Claude Lorrain, had I received earlier notice of Mr Cammucini's departure for England I should have bestowed more pains on them"

Pietro Camuccini was a Roman art dealer who corresponded frequently with Lawrence. Williams was one of Lawrence's students (from 1821) and was also enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools. In 1827 he travelled to Rome with letters of introduction from his tutor. He settled there and became known as ‘the most eminent painter of Roman scenery and groups of peasantry’. Williams also became a close friend of the sculptor John Gibson and was appointed his executor.