Rare antique etching and coper engraving was executed in 1793 by famous German classicist drawer and etcher Wilhelm Friedrich Gmelin (1760 Badenweiler - 1820 Rome). The artist received first instruction by his father, who was in Badenweiler a minister. Afterwards he visited the latin school in Müllheim. In the age of 16 years he took up 1776 teachings as etcher in the art school Basel with Christian von Mechel, which took ten years. 1786 he settled for further training to Rome over (see Karl Philipp Moritz, journey of a German in Italy, 1792/93, second part) and became soon on invitation of Jakob Philipp Hackert to Neapel. 1790 he returned again to Rome. Starting from this time motives for nature formed his artistic emphasis. He prepared his designs usually in Sepia, painted later he also. During the revolution time in 1798 and again in 1800 to 1801 he was in Germany, where he worked at his latter stay particularly in the Dresdens gallery. He spent the last 20 years of his life in Rome. There ranked among its guests among other things Alexander of Humboldt, whose sketches were partly stung by Gmelin in copper. Under his numerous passes, after own designs and particularly after Claude Lorrain and Nicolas Poussin Gmelin explained the mill of the Claude Lorrain for his masterpiece. Gmelin invented several machines, particularly for etchers. Also as Drechsler he showed large talents. His son Johann George Gmelin (1810-1854) was even a respected painter.

Literature: Thieme/Becker "General Artists Lexicon" (in German), Leipig, 1999; von Boetticher "Malerwerke des 19 Jahrhunderts",1891.

Inscription: titled in German, signed in the plate and dated 1793 under the title in the middle.

Technique: etching and cooper engraving

Measurements: image 15 1/3 " x 23 1/3" (39 x 59 cm), matted and framed 19 " x 27 1/4" (48,5 x 69 cm)

Condition: very good