Description

In 1822, at the age of only 12, he arrived in Rome at the invitation of his cousin François Keiserman, who was already renowned as an excellent watercolorist and ran a successful studio where Bartolomeo Pinelli had also worked. Under his cousin’s guidance, Knebel distinguished himself in drawing and painting, but the deterioration of their relationship eventually led to a break with his master. He left Keiserman’s house on Piazza di Spagna and began working independently. His first documented participation at the Roman exhibition of the Società degli Amatori e Cultori di Belle Arti di Roma dates back to 1843.

The work presented here, a view of the Fountain of the Tritons and the Temple of Hercules Victor in the area known as the Foro Boario, depicts one of Rome’s typical cityscapes. Such subjects were among the most popular and beloved motifs for the European aristocracy and the upper middle class in the 18th and 19th centuries, and were considered prized souvenirs of the Grand Tour. Over the course of his career, the artist produced several versions of this subject, testifying to the fact that the site was greatly appreciated both by Knebel himself and by his wealthy clientele.

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