Christian Georg Schütz the Elder

Anonymous sale, Paris, Sotheby's, 21 June 2012, lot 14, for €120,750;

Where acquired by the present owners.

ENGRAVED

Christian von Mechel (1737–1817), 1792.

Rare in the œuvre of Schütz, who largely painted fantastical Rhineland views, this sweeping depiction of Frankfurt (on the right bank) and Sachsenhausen (on the left) might have been inspired by the work of Bernardo Bellotto (1722–1780), who moved to Germany from 1747–58. The Alte Brücke (Old Bridge) that joined the two towns is depicted bustling with figures going about their daily lives. In the distance lies the town of Hochst, known for its specialisation in porcelain manufacture. Very few components of this view have survived, except for the church with the bell tower at left, which still stands today.