Friedrich Nerlich (German, 1807 - 1878) first travelled to Italy in 1828 with his mentor, the writer and art collector, Carl Friedrich Freiher von Rumohr. It was a life-changing experience for the artist, who subsequently changed his name to the Italianate Nerly and went on to live in Rome for six years following his teacher’s departure, ultimately settling in Venice. From his studio in the Palazzo Pisani, near to the Campo San Stefano, Nerly absorbed and recorded the breathtaking views which are now celebrated as his life’s work. As Nerly’s beautiful, bustling canal scene shows, the Rialto was the heart of commercial life in Venice as heavily laden cargo ships from all over the world arrive to sell their merchandise: silk and spices from the far east, metalwork and textiles from north Italian traders, as well as ripe fruits and vegetables seen in the immediate foreground, draped in vibrant red and yellow fabrics.
[Sotheby’s, New York - Oil on canvas, 75.2 x 109.2 cm]