Nerly in Venedig. Von Gondeln und Palästen

The German painter Friedrich Nerly went to Italy at the age of 20. After living in Rome and Milan, he was drawn to Venice. What was only planned as a short stop on his way back to Germany turned into a lifelong stay and he became the city's most famous living artist. His most famous motifs also date from this creative period: the St. Mark's Column by moonlight and the view of the Grand Canal.

"Venice and always Venice, from all sides, large and small, in ancient and modern times," wrote Friedrich Nerly in 1845 about his everyday artistic life. At this time, he had already been in the lagoon city for seven years, having previously lived in Rome. His marriage to a Venetian woman from a good family gave him excellent connections and his centrally located studio in the Palazzo Pisani established itself as a popular destination for many travelers. With his picturesque views, the artist met the demand of tourists, who were arriving in ever increasing numbers. Among his most successful motifs were the Piazzetta and the St. Mark's Column by moonlight, which he repeated over 30 times.

For Nerly, Venice was an inexhaustible treasure trove of motifs: the artist's partial estate, which has been kept in the Kunsthalle Bremen since 1953, comprises numerous drawings that he created in the 41 years he spent there until his death in 1878, including brilliant impressions of Venetian windows, Gothic architecture, black gondolas and sailing ships at anchor. His two most famous motifs and also his most successful paintings date from this period: The Kunsthalle Bremen also owns two iconic paintings of both motifs, The St. Mark's Column in Venice by Moonlight (around 1837) and Grand Canal with a View of Santa Maria della Salute (1838/39), which are presented alongside 50 works on paper in the exhibition.

The cabinet exhibition "Nerly in Venice" accompanies "Nature and Antiquity. The Romantic Friedrich Nerly in Rome", which focuses on Nerly's early creative years in Rome from 1829 to 1835.