In the Park of the Villa Borghese

Oswald Achenbach, Andreas’ younger brother, was one of the main representatives of 19th-century German landscape painting. This depiction of late afternoon walks in Rome’s most frequented park rose after his sixth trip to Italy. It has the quality of a snapshot about it, attributable to a changed way of seeing things now that photography was on the scene. The choice of view seems as coincidental as the staffage, especially as only part of the Casino is visible and the walkers mainly turn their backs on the beholder or are in the shadows of the massive trees. A typical feature of Achenbach’s urban landscapes is their stagelike quality. The beholder’s eye is directed past the pedestrians and the balustrade into the depths of the image. The emphasis on the mood conveyed by the light, the open brushwork and the apparent chance nature of the subject matter attest to Achenbach’s occupation with Impressionism. The painting was a great public success and was immediately sold. The preparatory oil sketch was acquired by the Museum Kunstpalast in 2006. (Kathrin DuBois)