The corner of the balcony visible at lower left in this composition indicates Renoir’s vantage point overlooking the bay of Naples.
His position afforded an iconic view of the harbor with the volcano Mount Vesuvius in the background, wafting smoke into the sky.
Inspired by the southern Italian light, Renoir painted another version of this vista at a different time of day (The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Mass.).
James Duncan, a wealthy sugar refiner, purchased the present work in 1883, making it the first Impressionist picture acquired by a Scottish collector.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir | The Bay of Naples, 1881 | Metropolitan Museum of Art