This romanticist painting with a shipwrecked on rocky bay at sunset was executed by famous German landscape painter Bernhard Fries (1820 Heidelberg - 1879 Munich). Bernhard was born as the son of wealthy bankers, madder manufacturers and painting collector Christian Adam Fries in Heidelberg. His brother Ernst was also landscape painter. Bernhard Fries received his first instruction at the historical painter Carl Koopmann in Karlsruhe, studied at the Munich Academy from 1835 to 1837 and moved to Italy in 1838, from where he in returned to Germany in 1846. He was between 1840 and 1843 at the Academy in Düsseldorf.

As his most important work is the cycle of 40 Italian landscapes, this cycle were compared with the famous cycle of Rottmann, who as Fries´ main role model is valid. After completion of this cycle in 1866 he created Italian views of Palermo and the Mamellen (now in the Schack Museum in Munich), Civitella, Garda etc., views of Heidelberg and motifs from its surroundings.He was born in the art-loving family of bankers, which enabled him in contrast to his peers financially worry-free painting and travel. His father, the banker and industrialist Christian Adam Fries had a very valuable art collection. The collection contained Dutch 17th century, images of Lorrain, Poussin, works by Joseph Anton Koch and George Augustus Wallis. He was the nephew of the chemistry professor Karl Wilhelm Gottlob Kastner, which pupil was Justus Liebig. Fries was a member of the Heidelberger Masonic lodge Ruprecht to the five roses since 1857A rich collection of drawings and sketchbooks is located at a descendant in Germany privately owned. His paintings are represented in various museums, such as the large galleries and engraving cabinets in Darmstadt, Halle, Karlsruhe, Munich (Neue Pinakothek and Schack museum), Stuttgart and Zurich. The Kurpfälz Museum in Heidelberg has a comprehensive collectiony of works by Bernhard Fries.

Fries´ Italian landscapes show great composition and broad treatment, the newer German, however, a very careful design. He died in Munich on May 21, 1879.

Some works by the artist:A distant view of the Mont Blanc, Panoramic view on Lake Como, The Canyon at NEMI, The Lake of Geneva, The Neckarthal, The surroundings of Heidelberg, A storm, A Shipwrecked on rocky bay on sunset (for image see additional photo).

Literature: Thieme-Becker "Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler"; General artist encyclopedia by Saur, vol. 55, 2005; Hyacinth Holland: Frieze, Bernhard. In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie. Volume 49, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1904, S. 142 f.; German monography my Horst Ludwig "Münchner Maler im 19./20. Jahrhundert. Lexikon ", 1982, 6 Volums., V..3.

Inscription: remainder of signature lower middle.

Technique: oil on canvas. Luxuriousy original period gold-plated wood frame.

Measurements: unframed w 31 7/8" x h 21 1/2" ( 81 x 54,5 cm); framed w 37" x h 27" ( 94 x 68,5 cm).

Condition: in very good cleaned condition, no inpaintings, original canvas.