This Italian folk scene at a rock source in the Roman Campagna was executed by important German Romanticist and historical painter Adolf (Carl Ludwig Adolf) Ehrhardt (1813 Berlin - 1899 Wölfenbüttel). It was signed by the artist with his famous monogram and inscribed Roma (monogram detection is to find in the lexicon of monogram painters (in German) by Franz Goldstein, Vienna, 1964). Our painting is described also in the important 4-vol. monography by Franz von Boetticher " Malerwerke des 19. Jahrhunderts" under Nr. 27 with original artist´s German title "Die Felsenquelle" (in English: "Rock source") as exhibited at the Viennese Art Academy in 1868 and 1869.Karl Ludwig Adolf Ehrhardt (born 21 November 1813 in Berlin, † 19 November 1899 in Wolfenbüttel) was famous historical, portrait and genre painter of the Duesseldorf School.Adolf Ehrhardt attended for a short time, the Art Academy in Berlin, but was already at age 19 in 1832 to Düsseldorf at the art academy.He could make his debut under the guidance of his teacher Johann Gottfried Schadow with the first pictures.1838 Ehrhardt had settled in Dresden and became assistant to the historical painter Edward Bendemann.Along with this Ehrhardt was instrumental in the decoration of the royal palace residence, primarily for various wall paintings of the throne and ballroom.Ehrhardt in 1846 received the title "Professor", connected to a teaching position at the Dresden Art Academy.As such, he was seen in the choice of subjects of works as Ludwig Richter Ludwig Uhland and inspire.In addition, he has created commissioned works, such as altarpieces for churches and a number of cartons and color sketches of stained glass for churches in the UK and among other things, of Braunschweig.Revised by the way, so to speak Ehrhardt Pierre Louis Bouvier´s "Manual of Oil Painting" and published in 1885 "The Art of Painting," in which he set out the basic ideas of art education at the academy.Adolf Ehrhardt was married to Mathilde from Duesseldorf Brockhoff.Her sister Odila (1818-1895) was the wife of the history painter and professor Hermann Free Hold Plüddemann Dresden (1809-1868), a companion of Adolf Ehrhardt.Adolf Ehrhardt died in 1899 at the age of 86.His son Max first went to sea, and in 1875 was machinery factory owner in Wolfenbüttel. (source: artfinding.com).

Bibliography: Thieme/Becker "Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler"; Franz von Boetticher "Malerwerke des 19.Jahrhunderts (both in German); in on-line : wikipedia and artfinding.com.

Inscription: signed with detected artist´s monogramm and inscription"Roma", upper right.

Technique: oil on canvas. Original period gilt frame.

Measurements: unframed w 19 3/4" x h 24 1/3" (50 x 62 cm), framed w 26 1/3" x h 31 1/8" (67 x 79 cm).

Condition: good condition, professionally cleaned, original canvas, no inpaintings or paintlosses.