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Lot description
(Frankfurt am Main 1789–1872 Vienna) The Harbour of Trieste, signed, dated J. Alt 1835, oil on canvas, 55 x 67 cm, framed Provenance: Private Collection, Germany. Jacob Alt received his artistic training in his hometown of Frankfurt under Johann Friedrich Beer, focusing primarily on portraiture, miniature painting, and landscape drawing. In 1828, he embarked on a journey to Italy with his son Rudolf, visiting cities such as Verona, Vicenza, Padua, and Venice before reaching their final stop in Trieste. During their time in Italy, father and son developed a close bond, and their artistic styles and techniques began to influence one another. In this painting, Jacob Alt portrays the harbour in Trieste, positioned just in front of the Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia, where he applies his landscape technique to depict the bustling activity of the port in the afternoon. Their Italian journey was undertaken with the purpose of studying the works of Italian masters and the country’s landscape, and immersing themselves in its rich artistic heritage. They sought to convey the beauty of the cities they visited, producing a series of paintings that emphasised the interplay of natural light within their surroundings. For Jacob Alt, this journey was not only an opportunity for cultural enrichment but also a chance to impart his artistic expertise to his son. The works created during this period later served as the basis for lithographs and were compiled in the collection Picturesque Views from Italy. Jacob was renowned for his precise yet romanticised representations of the Italian landscape, establishing himself as a master of landscape painting.