Artwork
Rear View of the Convent with Waterfall
Rear View of the Convent with Waterfall is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Ernst Fries. It dates from 1829 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Rear View of the Convent with Waterfall is a lithograph on chine collé created by Ernst Fries in 1829, blending architectural and natural elements in a cityscape.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a serene hillside convent scene, with a waterfall cascading over rocky cliffs, surrounded by lush vegetation and a winding path, evoking a sense of tranquility.
Technique & Style
Fries employed precise yet soft lines and nuanced shading to convey the dynamism of the waterfall and achieve a dreamy, atmospheric effect, characteristic of his detailed and expressive printmaking style.
History & Provenance
Created in 1829 by Ernst Fries, a Heidelberg Romanticism artist, the work reflects his training under Carl Rottmann and association with Karl Philipp Fohr, showcasing his versatility in printmaking.
Context
This lithograph exemplifies Fries's balance between Romantic attention to atmosphere and emerging Realist tendencies, typical of his contributions to the cityscape genre.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ernst Fries (22 June 1801, Heidelberg – 11 October 1833, Karlsruhe) was a German painter, draftsman, watercolourist, etcher, printmaker, and lithograph.
The Waterfalls at Tivoli with the Ponte Lupo, Temple of Vesta, and Temple of Sibyl The Waterfalls at Tivoli with the Ponte Lupo, Temple of Vesta, and Temple of Sibyl
Berchtesgaden with the Watzmann Peak in the Distance
The Convent Terrace
Der Gesprengte und der Bibliotheke Thurm von Heidelberger Schloß (The Exploded Tower and the Library of Heidelberg Castle)
Entrance to the Convent Courtyard
The Convent of Neuburg from Haarlass
View of the Convent of Neuberg from the Summit
The Convent of Neuberg from Schlierbach
