Franz Knebel (1809–1877) - Campagna romana presso Tivoli...

FRANZ KNEBEL II (La Sarraz, 1809 – Rome, 1977) Roman countryside near Tivoli with view of the aqueducts, 1845 Oil on canvas, cm. 101.5 x 141 Signed and dated ‘F. KNEBEL 1845’ at the bottom right Frame size cm. 127 x 166 x 8 approx. NOTE: Cologne, Van Ham, May 22, 2026, lot 1289. Publication of the catalog of works from the Intermidiart collection. Work signed and dated. Certificate of Guarantee and Legitimate Provenance. Work with gilded and worked frame (defects). We present in the catalog a splendid painting executed in oil on canvas with excellent mastery, depicting the famous Roman countryside near Tivoli with a view of the aqueducts, one of the most evocative and beloved panoramas of the Eternal City. The painting represents one of the happiest and most mature outcomes of the fortunate series of views realized by the Swiss artist Franz Knebel (La Sarraz, 1809 – Rome, 1877) for European aristocracy and for educated travelers engaged in the Grand Tour. The canvas is arranged according to a rigorous classical scheme of 17th-century derivation (inspired by Claude Lorrain and Nicolas Poussin), mediated by 19th-century naturalism. On the left portion, a majestic arboreal wing dominated by ancient oaks defines the foreground, projecting a shaded area on the dirt path. Here move travelers and shepherds with pack animals, skillfully inserted to confer a sense of proportional scale and bucolic idyll. Beyond the dense vegetation and central rock outcrops, the viewer’s eye is guided toward the vast Lazio plain. In the background stand, crisp and solemn under the meridian light, the arches of the ruins of the Roman aqueducts, which serve as a conceptual and evocative hinge of the entire view. The transition toward the mountains and Tivolian hills in the distance is resolved through a delicate aerial perspective. Dated 1845, the painting expresses Knebel’s full artistic maturity. The brushwork is fluid and attentive to the tactile textures of the foliage and the calcareous rocks. What distinguishes the work is the masterful orchestration of Italian atmospheric light: the clear sky, threaded with faint wisps of clouds toward the horizon, radiates a warm, golden luminosity that unifies the natural element and the historic ruin in a mood of poetic suspension and nostalgic contemplation of the past. Franz Knebel (1809–1877) was a Swiss painter known for his views of Rome and its surroundings, executed in both watercolor and oil. Born in La Sarraz, Switzerland, he settled in Rome in 1829, where he lived and worked until his death. Specializing in landscape painting, he followed in the footsteps of his father, also a painter, Franz Knebel (1789–1822). His works, particularly appreciated by North European travelers, often depict the Roman countryside and places such as Tivoli, with famous waterfalls and ancient monuments. The presence of the autograph signature and the dating (1845) provides this canvas with exceptional documentary value within the artist’s catalog raisonné. The recent entry on the international high-end market, certified by inclusion in the Fine Art auction catalog of the renowned German auction house Van Ham in Cologne (May 22, 2026, lot 1291), officially attests to its authenticity, commercial traceability, and the persistent critical and collecting interest by institutions and private collectors in the field of 19th-century Roman landscape painting. The work is presented in excellent overall condition. The original canvas is stable and shows an old conservation re-stretch with the frame kept in its structural integrity. The paint layer is sound and retains extraordinary color vivacity. Wood lamp (UV) examination reveals no losses or color flaking, showing only minor, pinpoint restoration touches localized along the peripheral edges (due to historical contact with the frame) and in some neutral areas of the sky. The signature and the date (F. Knebel 1845) are intact and contemporaneous. The surface is protected by a transparent, even varnish, enriched by a light and natural patina of time. The dimensions of the large canvas are 101.5 x 141 cm. The painting is mounted in a prestigious carved and gilded wooden frame, of great impact (size approx. 127 x 166 x 8 cm, with defects). "The frame shown in the photos above was added to the artwork by the seller or by a third party. The frame is provided at no additional cost so that it is ready to display as soon as it arrives. The frame is included as a courtesy and is not considered an integral part of the artwork. Therefore, any potential damage to the frame that does not affect the artwork itself will not be accepted as a valid reason to open a claim or request order cancellation." PROVENANCE: Private collection, Sicily PUBLICATION: - The Myths and the Territory in Sicily across a Thousand Cultures. UNPUBLISHED QUADRERIA general catalog of the paintings from the cycle “The Myths and the Territory,” 2026 (Pdf). The work will be shipped – due to its large size – with a wooden crate and polystyrene. In case of sale outside the Italian territory, the buyer will need to allow time for export procedures."

Schätzpreis:€7,500

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