A pair of watercolours depicte:  1. Landscape near Naples with Vesuvius in the background; 2. Landscape with ruins of an aqueduct near Rome on the road to Naples (today's Park of the Aqueducts)

This watercolours were executed ca. 1819- early 1820s by one of the best Austrian watercolour artists of 19th century Thomas Ender (1893 Vienna - 1875). The evidence of watercolor dating is the watermark of one of them, dated 1819 and the fact that Ender after his return from the Austrian Brazil expedition, lived and worked as an imperial pensioner in Italy until 1823.

Thomas Ender was born as a son of the trader Johann Ender and twin brother of the historical-scenes painter Johann Nepomuk Ender in the Viennese at that time suburb Spittelberg . Together with his brother he entered 1806 the academy of the forming arts Vienna, where he studied the history painting first with Hubert Maurer, then however 1810 changed to Laurenz Janscha in his landscape class . After death Janschas 1812 became Joseph Mößmer his teacher. 1810 had Ender already received the 1st price of the academy for landscape painting . After some study trips Thomas Ender was distinguished 1817 with the large painter price for landscape painting, donated by the emperor. Prince Clemens Metternich acquired this work and promoted the artist from now on. Thus he made for Ender possible to participate 1817 in the Austrian Brazil expedition while the Ender made over 700 designs and watercolors. After the return Metternich carried him forward to Rome, where Ender was allowed to be until 1823 as an imperial pensioner. Starting from 1823 Ender was active on behalf Metternichs in austrian probine Salzkammergut , and became 1824 member of the Viennese academy. He made a journey for 1826 to Paris. 1828 he was appointed the chamber painter by duke Johann and participated in his Orient and south Russia journey 1837, which led him to Konstantinopel and Greece. Afterwards Ender became 1837 to 1851 professor at the Viennese academy and created several landscape series, which were often stung by English artists in steel. 1845 were appointed Ender the imperial advice and stepped 1851 into the retirement. He was distinguished 1853 with the Franz Joseph medal and 1854 received the civil right. 1855 and 1857 began Ender again journeys to Italy. Thomas Ender was married since 1832 with Theresia Arvay. and after his death on 30 September 1875 was buried at the Viennese central cemetery . Thomas Ender connected his artistic being able in the landscape painting with a scientific interest in topographic conditions. His pictures from Brazil take a special value. In addition, within Austria Ender was interested in a topographically exact collection of the alpine countries, which developed on behalf and in the interest of the emperor house. Thus Ender stood within a time current, which was endeavored to document the world and nature as comprehensively and exactly as possible similarly as the painter Johann Knapp the plant treasures of the Austrian emperor house in the castle Schönbrunn with largest artistic championship seized.

Literature: H.Fuchs "Lexicon of austrian artists of 19th century", Vienna, 1975.

Inscription: each signed in pencil on the back of paper, lower left;  each titled in Italian on the back of the paper, lower right. 

Technique: each : watercolour on paper, original passpartout, unframed .

Measurements: each unframed w 7 5/8" x h 4 3/4" (19,2 x 12 cm), matted w 10 5/8" x h 8 1/4" (27 x 20,7 cm).

Condition: very good original condition.

Shipping: shipping costs covered by seller.