Barely six months after his arrival in Italy, Catel travelled to Naples and the southern coasts and returned here time and again. Catel was one of the early painters, who discovered the region and also worked here with other artists such as Dahl and Huber. In contrast to his popular paintings, the oilstudy of the harbour does without narrative staffage. With quick, fluid strokes, Catel sketched the soft colours of brown, blue and green for the interlocking buildings, the still water and the hazy Vesuvius on the horizon, capturing a peacefull, calm atmosphere.