Rudolf von Alt

The works of Rudolf of Alt show the view of the emperor’s capital’s peak, which is to be appreciated for its artistical and historical value. In its meticulous scenery, the artist recreated the architectonic image of the city with great detail. Often, he studied popular places over the span of multiple years; his views serving as important contemporary witness of Vienna’s cityscape change in the 19th century. In the shown work, Rudolf von Alt presents the situation of 1885: It shows the view from Freyung across the Heidenschuss building to the place Am Hof. While the eye wanders from the spacious street on the lower edge to the tramway crossing the scene all the way to Am Hof, a mass of people comes the viewer’s way. Ladies and Gentlemen clad in elegant clothing stroll along the path, while the common folk runs its errands. Two carriages cross the city and create dynamic, together with the pigeons and dogs spread across the canvas. The topographical accuracy of Rudolf von Alt’s works shows in the meticulously painted architecture. In the centre is the Austria-fountain build in 1846, with the crowned Austria on a pillar. She is surrounded by allegories of the four most important rivers of the Habsburg empire. Above the fountain (corner between Freyung/Renngasse) towers the bank office of the “Niederösterreichischen Eskomptegesellschaft”. In utmost diligence the details of the building’s frontage were painted with all its gables, pilaster and portico held by fine pillars. To the left – in the Heidenschuss, the passage to the place Am Hof – is the six-level high building of the “Credit – Anstalt für Handel und Gewerbe”, which is shown with its striking yellow frontage and only a single row of windows. In contrary to the previous builds at that place, the house was built way more backed away from the street. The previous small houses at this spot had been demolished after the modernisation of Vienna took place. In the case of those modern “reforms” to benefit the growing traffic they expanded the streets and hence the view to the k.k. Hofkriegsraths-building at the place Am Hof. The southern tower of the Stephan dome is visible behind the building’s skyline. The only building still being the same as back then is at the lower right side, the Palais Montenuovo, which still carries the eponymous sign on its walls.