Bürkel - master of watercolor, Munich

(1802 Pirmasens – 1869 Munich) At the Aqua Felice near Rome, a sketch executed by Bürkel with strong, energetic brushstrokes depicts a scene rich in figures at the ruins of the Aqua Felice with a fountain next to Porta Furba in front of the gates of Rome, which was completed in 1585 under Pope Sixtus V. Sixtus V also installed a fountain there, which is also known as the Fontana di Clemente, because it was restored by Pope Clement XI in 1733. On the way to Rome, this was a popular meeting and resting place for many travelers, shepherds, and cattle herders. Most likely, Bürkel captured the motif from life on site during one of his four trips to Italy and longer stays in Rome (in 1827, 1831–1833, 1838, and 1853). Bürkel also depicted this subject in several paintings, but this particular sketch is not a study for any of his previously known works. Pencil on support. 32.5 cm x 40.5 cm. In a frame.