Messe in der Römischen Campagna: in the Italian countryside

Oswald Achenbach started his studies at the academy in Düsseldorf in 1835 at eight years old. In doing so he followed in the footsteps of his elder brother, the painter Andreas Achenbach (1815-1910). Next to his teacher Johann Wilhelm Schirmer (1807-1863), his brother had a profound influence on his work. Early on in his career he made studies of landscapes in the area around Düsseldorf. From 1843 onwards the artist undertook various trips throughout Europe. The artist was held in high regard internationally by his peers and received honorary memberships to the Academies of Art of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and St. Petersburg. Besides trips to the Netherlands, Russia and Austria, he also travelled to Italy. The peninsula would eventually prove to be Achenbach's main source of inspiration. A large part of his oeuvre depicts the surroundings of Naples, with villages such as Positano and Sorrento.

Compare with another version recorded in the archives of the RKD, The Hague.