(Düsseldorf 1827–1905)
Afternoon in the park of Villa Torlonia in Frascati, signed, dated Osw. Achenbach 1889, oil on canvas, 121 x 151 cm, framed, (Rei)

Provenance:
Galerie Stern, Düsseldorf, 2 April 1932, lot 74;
Private Collection Germany;
Lempertz, Cologne, 21 November 1985, lot 26;
Private Collection Germany.

In this painting, Oswald Achenbach once again reveals himself to be a master at depicting the golden, southern light and the shimmering shadows that scatter a sensual pattern over the foreground.
The piece offers a glimpse of the park of Villa Torlonia in Frascati, a villa complex in the Alban Hills whose origins date back to the 16th century. Achenbach does not choose one of the famous vistas over the baroque gardens: instead, he picks a side path that leads from the garden back to the villa, to a terrace with a panoramic view over the region that surrounds Rome. Walkers in summery clothing stroll in the shaded areas around the fountain or enjoy the view from the balustrade. Achenbach is less concerned with making the architecture and the gardens recognizable than with capturing the sultry atmosphere of an Italian summer’s afternoon.
Dating back to 1889, the present lot forms part of Achenbach’s late period of creative output, during which he enjoyed great success and firmly established himself as an artist with his glowing southern landscapes. The villas near to Rome inspired him to create large-format works on several occasions, with the picture shown here certainly one of the most beautiful.