Gaspar van Wittel, also known as Gaspare Vanvitelli, was a Dutch painter and engraver of the 17th century. Born in Amersfoort, Netherlands, in 1653, he spent most of his life in Italy. He is credited with the development of the veduta genre, which consists of detailed and precise urban landscapes. Van Wittel moved to Rome in 1674, where he worked and studied under the tutelage of the orientalist painter Matthias Withoos. There, he specialized in the depiction of urban landscapes and panoramic views of Italian cities, such as Rome, Venice, and Naples. His precision and attention to detail in the representation of architecture and perspective earned him recognition and success. In addition to his works in Italy, Van Wittel also worked in other European countries, such as France and Spain. His style influenced other vedutisti painters, being considered one of the pioneers of this genre.
