The Fortress of Königstein: Courtyard with the Magdalenenburg

1756-1758

Bernardo Bellotto

Associated Names
Bernardo Bellotto

Painter, Venetian, 1722 - 1780

The painting depicts a stately building complex from an elevated point. The buildings are large, with white, ivy-covered walls and dark, peaked roofs. One building on the left is directly ahead of us, while a closer building on the right sits on a small hill. The buildings are connected by wide gray paths and small stairs. Small people walk the paths or stand on the surrounding grass wearing dresses or suits in bright colors, some with white wigs or pointed hats. The light is warm, and the people cast soft shadows on the grass. Tall trees near the buildings provide areas of shade. The sky above is soft blue with pale white clouds.

Media Options

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Artwork overview


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Winkler Collection, Dresden; Willy Dreyfus [1885-1977], Frankfurt and Montreux; his daughter, Lili-Charlotte Sarnoff [1916-2014], Bethesda, Maryland; gift (partial and promised) 1996 to NGA.[1]
[1] Provenance from curator's acquisition proposal, and Sarnoff collection records, in NGA curatorial files.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

lower right: 740.; across bottom of stretcher reverse: Prospect der Vestüng Königstein von Oben. Bernard Bellotto dit Canaletto Pintx. 1764.

Wikidata ID

Q19681645

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