Themistocles von Eckenbrecher (1842-1921)

"Jerusalem"

Oil on canvas, signed on the reverse

36 x 54 cm.

The artist shows Jerusalem enclosed by the Old City walls with the distinctive Dome of the Rock to the south; the city is viewed from the surrounding hills to the east.  While Eckenbrecher painted a wide repertoire of subjects from historical battles to genre scenes he is best known for views of the Middle East and contrasting landscapes of Norway and the Polar region. He was born in Athens and spent part of his youth in Constantinople before moving to Germany. He studied in Potsdam and then spent three years under Oswald Achenbach.

His travels took him to Turkey, Constantinople, the Bosporus and Israel. He also accompanied Prince Sayne-Wittgenstein to Iceland, Norway and the Russian Polar region. Examples of his work can be found in notable collections including the National Galerie, Berlin, and museums of Vienna, Düsseldorf, Neu Brandenburg, Schwerin and Braunschweig.