Bellotto: The Königstein Views Reunited

Delightful exhibition at the National Gallery reuniting Bellotto’s five views of the Königstein fortress just outside Dresden.

Painted by Bernardo Bellotto, nephew of Canaletto, for August III, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, in 1756-8 as part of a larger series of 30 views of Dresden and its surroundings. There are three external views of the fortress and two of the interior. They are beautifully displayed at eye level so you can view them easily and take in all the details.

The external views are large and sublime but still include lots of details of the people supporting the fortress and surrounding countryside and the internal scenes are full of people and action from women hanging up washing, through soldiers to a beautiful walled garden. I could have looked at these pictures for hours and still found more in them.

Closes 31 October 2021

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