26. Simon-Joseph-Alexandre Clément Denis (Antwerp 1755-1813 Naples) Shepherds and their Flock in front of the Gulf of Naples signed, inscribed and dated 'S. Denis f: a Napoli 1797' (lower right) oil on canvas mounted on panel 56.7 x 77.9cm (22 5/16 x 30 11/16in). Born in Antwerp, Simon Denis learned the foundations of landscape painting from the Antwerp painter Henri Joseph Antonissen (1737-1794). He lived in Paris for 10 years, then in 1786 moved to Italy, to Rome and Naples, where, in 1806, he became the first court painter to Joseph Bonaparte and in 1809 professor at the Accademia di Belle Arti. He was by this time a celebrated landscape artist and worked for many of the Grand Tourists visiting Italy.