About the Work
Friedrich Metz rarely drew in this sketchbook. At the beginning of February 1851, on his way to Rome, where he lived from February 1851 until autumn 1853, Metz captured only occasional things with his pencil: isolated architectural and city views but, above all, views over wide, hilly landscapes, which, according to the recurring place name “near Orvieto”, must have been in Umbria. These travel impressions usually take up a double page and are realised with quick and practised strokes. See also the drawings formerly included in the sketchbooks SG 2752 and SG 2822, which the artist made in January 1851 during a previous leg of his journey around Florence and its vicinity. Also see Metz’s sketchbooks in the Städel Museum which were partly or entirely used on his other Italian travels between 1848 and 1876 (Inv. SG 2821, SG 2758, SG 2759, SG 2824 and probably SG 2823 and SG 2825).
The book has or had enclosed two of the artist’s business cards and two photographs, possibly showing the Metz brothers.
For a full sketchbook description, please see “Research”.
