The Façade and Suroundings of a Cathedral for Berlin

1827

Karl Friedrich Schinkel

Associated Names
Karl Friedrich Schinkel

Artist, German, 1781 - 1841

The image shows a frontal view of an ornate building with clear architectural features. The horizon line is above the base of the building. Trees are on the left, and the architecture displays classical columns, an intricately decorated facade, and symmetrical towers. The painting style uses precise brushstrokes. The color palette includes soft grays, blues, and creams against a blue sky with clouds.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    watercolor over graphite on wove paper, laid down on presentation mount

  • Credit Line

    Wolfgang Ratjen Collection, Patrons' Permanent Fund

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 16.2 x 26.8 cm (6 3/8 x 10 9/16 in.)
    image: 14.9 x 25.5 cm (5 7/8 x 10 1/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2007.111.39

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Friedrich Wilhelm IV [1795-1861], King of Prussia; presented 20 January 1845 to the Schinkel Museum, Berlin, inventory number S. 202 N.5 (Lugt 2362c); returned 11 February 1845 to the King; Fürstlich Schaumburg-Lippesche Hofbibliothek, Bückeburg, Inv. no. 35384; (sold, Kunsthandel Groth, Berlin, 9 May 1935). Private collection, Berlin, possibly Friedrich Winkler; Eva Dencker-Winkler, Zurich. Wolfgang Ratjen, Munich, 1997. Purchased 2007 by NGA

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2010

  • German Master Drawings from the Wolfgang Ratjen Collection, 1580 - 1900, NGA, 2010: 19, 35, 38, no. 75, under no. 80.

Bibliography

1941

  • Rave, Paul Ortwin. Karl Friedrich Schinkel: Lebenswerk. Vol. 2, Berlin, Erster Teil, Bauten für die Kunst, Kirchen/Denkmalpflege. Berlin, 1941: 227, fig. 133, 228, 231, no. 46.

1978

  • Reuther, Hans. Die Museuminsel in Berlin. Berlin, 1978: 169-170, no. 30 (reprod.).

1980

  • Schümann, Carl-Wolfgang. Der Berliner Dom im 19. Jahrhundert. Berlin, 1980: 28, fig. 19.

1992

  • Klingenburg, Karl-Heinz. Der Berliner Dom: Bauten, Ideen und Projekte vom 15. Jahrhundert bis zur Gegenwart. Berlin, 1992: 80, fig. 63.

2001

  • Haus, Andreas. Karl Friedrich Schinkel als Künstler: Annäherung und Kommentar. Munich, 2001: 31, fig. 19.

Inscriptions

signed at bottom right in black ink: Schinkel; on verso of presentation mount at bottom left in brown ink, an inv. no.: S. 202. N. 3

Watermarks

not deciphered: 3 lines of text and date (visible in raking light)

Wikidata ID

Q64591871

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