Lot 1705 Dα

In this painting, Oswald Achenbach depicts a scene that takes place before dawn in the Bay of Naples. A fire gives the fishermen the light they need to haul in their nets. To the left, standing on a rowing boat, a man in a hat and jacket observes the action - perhaps the painter is even depicting himself here. Behind him, the lanterns of the waterfront form a charming chain of lights. The most beautiful light however, comes from the setting moon. Here Achenbach shows the variety of colours in the night sky, from the deepest black, through violet, grey and light blue, to the glistening white of the light source itself. The outlines of Mount Vesuvius with its plume of smoke also appear in the background.