(Düsseldorf 1827–1905)
View of Florence, signed, dated Osw. Achenbach 1883, oil on canvas, 52.5 x 60 cm, framed, (Rei)

Florence, the symbol of the Renaissance and a dream destination for many travellers, has always fascinated artists and intellectuals. Oswald Achenbach, too, was unable to escape the thrall of the city. He takes a point high above the urban landscape as the basis for his painting, allowing the viewer to obtain a panoramic view of this city on the Arno. The winding path travels up to the Piazzale Michelangelo, a viewpoint which is still loved by tourists and locals alike today. There, a somewhat smaller copy of Michelangelo’s David looks down over the city. The viewer’s gaze passes over the image, catching on the city’s prominent landmark that serves as a point of reference: the cathedral rising up at the heart of Florence, its dome designed by Brunelleschi. Behind this, to the left, it is possible to discern the tower of the Palazzo Vecchio where the senate met to decide the city’s future. Achenbach bathes the scene in a light that seems almost romantic. His images are home to a certain peacefulness, even if the scenes themselves depict the hustle and bustle of life. Consequently, the viewer is included within a self-contained scene as a silent observer while everyday life continues along its well-worn path.