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The 3 Most Famous Gabriele Smargiassi Paintings, Each One of a Kind
Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 3 works by Gabriele Smargiassi in our catalogue
In short
Figures at the fountain (1882) is the Gabriele Smargiassi painting that draws the most eyes. After it, the eye goes to Landscape (1832) and The Royal Palace of Caserta (1833). Among the 3 works of Gabriele Smargiassi in our catalog, these 3 are the most famous, each a unique original presented with its year, its museum and the reason it endures.
1798 – 1882, Vasto
Most works: Condé Museum
Top 10 paintings by Gabriele Smargiassi, through the gallery's eye
The museums that keep Gabriele Smargiassi's originals
The museum that holds the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Gabriele Smargiassi | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Condé Museum |
Chantilly | 2 | Landscape, The Royal Palace of Caserta |
Gabriele Smargiassi across the years: the unique originals of each
A long career of 51 years, 1832 to 1882: Gabriele Smargiassi's most famous originals, shown year by year.
Works per year
Pick a year to see its originals.
Gabriele Smargiassi's paintings: questions for the gallery
What is the single most famous work of Gabriele Smargiassi?Reveal the answer
Figures at the fountain (1882). Landscape (1832) and The Royal Palace of Caserta (1833) come next.
At what age did Gabriele Smargiassi create Figures at the fountain?Reveal the answer
84 years old: Figures at the fountain dates from 1882, and Gabriele Smargiassi was born in 1798.
How many works by Gabriele Smargiassi are known?Reveal the answer
Our catalog holds 3 works by Gabriele Smargiassi, dated from 1832 to 1882.
Where can the most famous Gabriele Smargiassi originals be seen?Reveal the answer
Mostly in Condé Museum (Chantilly). The museum table above lists them all.
Which famous Gabriele Smargiassi painting is the earliest, and which the latest?Reveal the answer
On this page, the earliest is Landscape (1832) and the latest Figures at the fountain (1882).
What Gabriele Smargiassi originals can I see at the Condé Museum?Reveal the answer
Landscape and The Royal Palace of Caserta: the Condé Museum, Chantilly holds 2 of the works on this page.
Gabriele Smargiassi: a portrait of the artist
A Life Shaped by Light and Landscape
Born into a wealthy family in Vasto, Italy, Gabriele Smargiassi did not initially intend to spend his days with a brush in hand. There was once a path laid out for him toward the priesthood, much like his uncle, but the pull of the visual world proved far stronger than the call of the cloth. He traveled to Naples to seek formal training, enrolling at the Academy of Fine Arts where he studied under Giuseppe Cammarano. This early period of instruction provided the foundation upon which he would build a career defined by the quiet beauty of the Italian terrain.
His development was further shaped by his time spent with Anton Sminck van Pitloo, a Dutch-born painter who helped found the School of Posillipo. Through this connection, Smargiassi absorbed the nuances of landscape painting that would become his specialty. His travels eventually took him far beyond the borders of Italy. With the support of Hortense de Beauharnais, the Duchess of Saint-Leu, he journeyed to Rome to refine his studies. Later, following the Duchess to Arenenberg and then to Paris, he found himself within the orbit of the French court, even serving as a drawing tutor for the children of King Louis-Philippe.
The Academy and the Neapolitan Coast
In 1837, Smargiassi returned to Naples to claim a position that had been left vacant by the death of Pitloo. He was selected for the Chair of Landscape Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts, a post he held with distinction until his final days. This academic role allowed him to influence a new generation of painters, including Nicola Palizzi and Gennaro Della Monica. His presence in the Neapolitan art scene was marked by both teaching and active participation in the local culture, such as being an original signatory to the statutes of the Society for the Promotion of the Fine Arts in 1861.
His work often focused on the veduta and landscape genres, capturing specific locales with a keen eye for detail. He frequently returned to the scenery of his home region, painting views that ranged from the rugged coasts to peaceful inland vistas. Some of his notable subjects included:
- The view of the Palazzo Reale Caserta
- The coast of Sorrento and the road to Amalfi near Cetara Tower
- The Bay of Naples as seen from Mergellina or Posillipo
- The volcanic presence of Vesuvius viewed from the hills of Quisisana
Through these works, he documented the light and atmosphere of the Italian landscape. His paintings were not merely records of places but studies of how light interacts with the earth, whether in a quiet forest fountain or a bustling harbor. In 1861, his talent was recognized on a national stage when one of his paintings was purchased by King Victor Emmanuel II during the Italian National Exhibition in Florence.