Italian Landscape

Köler went to Italy in the spring of 1858, finally arriving in Rome. He lived there for the following years, taking occasional trips to Southern Italy, for instance, to say nothing of painting expeditions to the mountains near the city. Köler suffered from a shortage of material comforts and his health was not particularly good, yet he started working immediately and also learned Italian. His four-year period of working in Italy was intensive and according to the recollections of a contemporary, he “quickly gained recognition there through constant work”. There is general consensus that Köler’s style of painting changed in Italy and he withdrew ever more from strict academic requirements. Several reasons have been enumerated for why Köler’s style changed. Just the fact that he was away from assignments set by school for the first time and for so long and worked independently probably had its effect. Different influences from Paris but also from Italy can also be pointed out.

Additionally, various authors cite the fact that Köler started working in nature on painting landscapes as another reason. That genre was not particularly respected at the academy in St. Petersburg and Köler was introduced to its possibilities for the first time in Italy. Köler painted near Rome as well as farther afield.

The mountains around Rome were a source of inspiration back then for many artists, although Köler had not at first particularly appreciated the Campagna di Roma. Yet soon he already wrote that there is no end to his admiration of the “exquisite contours of slopes, antique ruins and river valleys separating themselves on the background of snowy mountain ridges.” In one letter, however, Köler says: “Travelling is beautiful and can completely enamour some people, especially if they have the greatest interest in nature itself, like myself. Nature, after all, will always remain the eternal primordial source for artists.” The reason for one of his painting excursions (often undertaken together with a companion) was also the need to revive his health in the fresh air. Thus Köler has, for instance, recalled how “my health was still not brilliant by a long shot. I sometimes felt such a drop in strength that my companions were convinced that I had only a short time left to live. In St. Petersburg, a rumour spread among my acquaintances that I was already dead.”

The subject of this painting is said to be the Campagna Romana Subiaco located in a part of Lazio County. Subiaco is near Rome and is prominent for its many abbeys and churches, yet it is hardly likely that the area’s religious spirituality attracted Köler.

The number of landscape paintings that Köler completed in Italy is considered to be scant. It may amount up to 40 (including studies and preparatory drawings) according to different estimates.