Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 13

Karl Adloff
Rare Romantic Rhine Landscape by Karl Adloff (1855) – Now Available

1855

$5,706.99
£4,323.18
€4,900
CA$7,906.27
A$8,867.40
CHF 4,643.72
MX$107,747.59
NOK 58,967.48
SEK 55,905.33
DKK 37,307.46

About the Item

Karl Adloff’s View of Koblenz from the Rhine towards the Fortress of Ehrenbreitstein (1855) is a luminous and atmospheric river scene that draws the viewer into a moment of stillness and beauty along the Rhine. The composition is expansive yet intimate: the sandy shoreline curves into the foreground, leading the eye across calm waters where river barges and small figures animate the surface, before resting on the imposing silhouette of Ehrenbreitstein Fortress rising on the opposite bank. Painted with extraordinary attention to light and reflection, the canvas captures the delicate interplay between architecture, nature, and human presence. The soft glow of the afternoon sky, mirrored in the river below, evokes a sense of quiet dignity and historical weight. Adloff’s sensitive brushwork and eye for detail make this more than just a topographical view—it becomes a poetic meditation on place and time. Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, visible in the distance on the right, stands as a powerful reminder of the region’s strategic importance. With origins dating back to around the year 1000, the present fortress was reconstructed by the Prussians between 1817 and 1834 as part of an ambitious defensive system. Perched high above Koblenz, it was never attacked and remained in military use until 1890. In Adloff’s rendering, the fortress looms peacefully over a thriving river life, its military presence softened by the golden light and the painter’s romantic sensibility. Karl Adloff was a prominent representative of the Düsseldorf School of painting, celebrated for his cityscapes, coastal views, and architectural subjects. His precision in rendering built environments is matched by a masterful handling of atmosphere and natural light. In this painting, one senses both Adloff’s observational skill and his deep emotional response to the landscape. Notably, a larger and more formal version of this same view, painted in 1856, was acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and today belongs to The Royal Collection Trust. That work is currently on long-term loan to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and was first recorded at Osborne House in 1876. The present painting, dated a year earlier, may well have served as the modello or plein-air study from which the royal version was developed. With its freer brushwork and naturalistic light, it possesses a spontaneity and freshness that lends it a unique appeal. This particular painting has recently been restored by a professional art conservator in Stockholm. It is in very good condition, with expected age-related craquelure and surface wear. oil on canvas signed and dated unframed: 27.5 × 43.5 cm (10.8 × 17.1 inches) framed: 44 × 59 cm (17.3 × 23.2 inches) Provenance: A private Swedish collection
  • Creator:
    Karl Adloff (1819 - 1863, German)
  • Creation Year:
    1855
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 17.33 in (44 cm)Width: 23.23 in (59 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    This painting has recently been restored by a professional art conservator in Stockholm. It is in very good condition, with expected age-related craquelure and surface wear.
  • Gallery Location:
    Stockholm, SE
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1445216322592

More From This Seller

View All
Golden Sunrise on the Maas – Arthur J. Meadows’ Tranquil Masterpiece (1884)
By Arthur Joseph Meadows
Located in Stockholm, SE
A Golden Dawn on the Maas In this refined marine painting, Arthur Joseph Meadows captures a tranquil sunrise on the river Maas just below the historic city of Dordrecht (“Dort”). The...
Category

1880s Romantic Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

A Harbor Scene from 1884
Located in Stockholm, SE
Carl Flodman (1863-1888) Swede A Harbor Scene from 1884 oil on wood panel signed and dated C.Flodman 84 unframed: 13 x 21 cm (5 1/8 x 8 1/4 in) framed: 29 x 37.5 cm (11 3/8 x 14 3/...
Category

1880s Romantic Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Halmstad Harbour Seen From the North, 1889
Located in Stockholm, SE
The painting "Halmstad Harbour Seen From the North" by Oscar Ohlson is a captivating snapshot of daily life and historical architecture, frozen in time from the year 1889. With a meticulous eye for detail, Ohlson has rendered approximately 25 boats in the harbor, each brimming with the quiet bustle of daily chores. The painting invites viewers to step into a moment where people converse, work, and seek respite from the sun under shared umbrellas, while wisps of smoke subtly rise from several boats, suggesting the presence of life and activity beyond the canvas. In this vibrant scene, a man carries a sack, perhaps fresh merchandise from one of the docked vessels, while others engage in conversation, highlighting the social tapestry of the harbor. Ohlson's masterful use of light reflects on the water, creating a shimmering path that leads the eye to the majestic Halmstad Castle, which adorns the right side of the painting. This historic building, beautifully situated by the Nissan river and not far from the sea, is a testament to Halmstad's past as a Danish territory. Constructed in the early 17th century during the reign of King Christian IV, the castle stands as a reminder of the town's rich history and cultural heritage. The first building to the right, once part of this historic tableau, has been removed to accommodate modern necessities, replaced by a road that now runs through its former site. This juxtaposition of past and present is a poignant commentary on the evolution of cities and the sacrifices made in the name of progress. Halmstad itself, a town that straddles the Nissan river, retains much of its early 20th-century character in its city core. Low brick and half-timbered houses, some dating back to the 17th century, dot the landscape. The town center on the west side of Nissan is bordered by remnants of early 17th-century fortifications, including the 1600s castle, Norre Port from 1601, and King Charles XI's path along the old fortress wall. At the heart of the town is Stora Torg with Carl Milles' Europa and the Bull fountain from 1926, and the town hall built in 1938. The city layout, influenced by Renaissance planning, converges at Stora Torg, which is also home to the town's sole medieval building, the brick hall church of St. Nikolai from the 14th century. Oscar Ohlson (1847-1912), a native of Linneryd, Småland, was a multifaceted individual. Beginning his career with a legal degree from Uppsala University in 1870, Ohlson's passion for the arts led him to pursue music studies before dedicating himself to art under the guidance of Alfred Wahlberg...
Category

1880s Realist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

A Day in the Countryside by Henry John Yeend King
By Henry John Yeend King
Located in Stockholm, SE
This delightful painting by the renowned Victorian genre and landscape artist Henry John Yeend King captures the serene charm of the English countryside. Depicting an idyllic riversi...
Category

Late 19th Century Romantic Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Dutch Winter Landscape at Sunset, 1842
Located in Stockholm, SE
This remarkable painting by Swedish artist Per Wickenberg captures a serene Dutch winter scene at sunset, showcasing his mastery of atmospheric light and dramatic composition. Create...
Category

1840s Romantic Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Landscape from Kvikkjokk, Sápmi, c. 1861
Located in Stockholm, SE
Per Daniel Holm (Malingsbo, Dalarna 1835–1903 Stockholm) Attributed to. Landscape from Kvikkjokk, c. 1861 oil on board unframed 39 x 56 cm (15.4 x 22 inches) framed 46.5 x 63 cm (...
Category

1860s Realist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

You May Also Like

19th Century continental townscape oil painting of a quayside on a river
By Ludwig Hermann
Located in Nr Broadway, Worcestershire
Ludwig Hermann German, (1812-1881) A Busy Quayside Oil on canvas, signed Image size: 15.75 inches x 22 inches Size including frame: 23 inches x 29.25 inches This atmospheric contin...
Category

19th Century Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Evening on River German Master Caucasian Panoramic Landscape 19th century
Located in Stockholm, SE
Attributed Paul Von Franken (1818-1884), famous Gemany a genre and landscape painter, signed bottom right. Fertile scenery coastal town with castle, mosque, minaret, large travelers ...
Category

1850s Realist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Oil

J. Brunner 1869 Oil on Canvas Austrian Landscape with Lake and Mountain Painting
Located in Firenze, IT
This very fine quality 19th century oil on canvas in dark brown wood frame with gold leaves details throughout is signed by Joseph Brunner (Vienna 1826-...
Category

19th Century Romantic Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Oil

Along the River “La Meuse” by Martinus Kuytenbrouwer, 1821 – 1897, Signed
Located in Knokke, BE
Martinus Kuytenbrouwer Amersfoort, The Netherlands 1821 – 1897 Paris, France Dutch Painter Along the River “La Meuse” Signature: signed lower right 'Martinus' Medium: oil on canvas...
Category

19th Century Romantic Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

19th Century river landscape oil painting of boats on a river
By Walter Stuart Lloyd
Located in Nr Broadway, Worcestershire
Stuart Lloyd British, (1858-1926) Evening Glow Oil on canvas, signed Image size: 19.5 inches x 29.5 inches Size including frame: 27.5 inches x 37.5 inches An atmospheric painting of boats on a river at sunset by Stuart Lloyd. A group of figures are shown in front of a cottage as fishermen in their boats prepare to head ashore. In the distance a hay barge sails towards a church and other buildings. Stuart Lloyd or Walter Stuart Lloyd...
Category

19th Century Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

'Continental Coastal View', Berlin, Paris, Riga State Museum, Romantic Landscape
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right, 'Krause' for Franz Emil Krause (German, 1836-1900) and painted circa 1865. Framed in a finely finished, hand-carved, gilt-wood and gesso frame. Framed Size 42.5 ...
Category

1860s Romantic Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board