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Lot Essay
Jacob Alt, a reknowned watercolourist and one of the first to use the new technique of lithography, was commissioned by the Austrian Archduke (later Emperor) Ferdinand to produce over 600 views of Austria in 1837. Alt's two sons had accompanied him on study trips for earlier commissions, colouring his drawings and learning to paint the surrounding landscape. Of the two sons Rudolph was the most talented. By the time Jacob received the Archduke's important commission Rudolph was regularly travelling with him.
The present works are very late for Jacob as he had largely stopped painting by 1850. Although he still signed all the paintings from his studio for the commission, it is known that by then some were produced by Rudolph. While the view of the Graben is technically not as fine as that of Saint Stephens, it is likely that Jacob was looking at Rudolph's earlier works of the same subject (for example see Der Graben in Wein, um 1843 in W. Koschatzky, Rudolph von Alt, Salzburg, 1975, no. 93, illustrated p. 94). Der Stephansdom (lot 71), however, is most probably Rudolph's work throughout. The quality of line and skill with which the clouds and sky have been rendered far surpasses that of the earlier works in the group.
We are grateful to Dr. Koschatzky for his help in the preparation of this catalogue entry.
The present works are very late for Jacob as he had largely stopped painting by 1850. Although he still signed all the paintings from his studio for the commission, it is known that by then some were produced by Rudolph. While the view of the Graben is technically not as fine as that of Saint Stephens, it is likely that Jacob was looking at Rudolph's earlier works of the same subject (for example see Der Graben in Wein, um 1843 in W. Koschatzky, Rudolph von Alt, Salzburg, 1975, no. 93, illustrated p. 94). Der Stephansdom (lot 71), however, is most probably Rudolph's work throughout. The quality of line and skill with which the clouds and sky have been rendered far surpasses that of the earlier works in the group.
We are grateful to Dr. Koschatzky for his help in the preparation of this catalogue entry.