Capri, building on an uphill road
1826
Imagine standing at the base of a steep Italian hill in 1826. That's exactly what Ernst Fries captured here during his travels to Capri. The sketch shows the town climbing up the rocky slope, dominated by a tall, blocky tower that looks almost like a fortress. Tiny figures in the foreground give us a sense of just how massive these old buildings are. It's a classic example of Romanticism, where artists loved documenting the 'sublime' beauty of nature and ancient ruins. The date scribbled in the corner—August 22, 1826—makes it feel like a page straight out of a traveler's diary.