Green melon with vase of flowers

The work depicting a melon and a terracotta vase of flowers belongs to the series of six paintings of Giacomo Nani’s early manner.

Placed in the “Calicut straw yellow” room after the Restoration, in the Savoy era the painting was moved to the West Entrance Hall.

The melon, one of the fruits most dear to the people of Campania, was cultivated – by will of Queen Maria Carolina – in the English Garden of the Royal Palace of Caserta, where notable results were achieved, even praised by Lord William Hamilton, English ambassador in Naples.

The latter, to tickle the queen's self-esteem, used to tell everyone that he had tasted the best melon in the capital at her table.