Italian mountain landscape with the lake of Nemi

John Robert Cozens sojourned twice in Italy for extended periods of time. He made many drawn studies there, on which he later based this water colour. Cozens wanted to paint sublime landscapes. This found expression not only in the depiction itself, but also in the muted, broad passages of wash, meant to lend the image a universal grandeur. Specific touches of bright colours, such as red, were used only for details.