Thomas Ender (austrian, 1793-1875), Pair Of Neapolitan Views

Two views of Naples and the ruins of an aqueduct on the road to Naples. These watercolours were executed around 1819 - early 1820s by one of the best Austrian watercolourists of the 19th century, Thomas Ender (1893 Vienna - 1875). The dating of the watercolour is attested by the watermark of one of them, dated 1819, and by the fact that Ender, after his return from the Austrian expedition to Brazil, lived and worked as an imperial pensionary in Italy until 1823.
Thomas Ender was born in the then Viennese suburb of Spittelberg to the merchant Johann Ender and the twin brother of the historical scene painter Johann Nepomuk Ender. Together with his brother, he entered the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts in 1806, where he studied history painting first with Hubert Maurer and then in 1810 with Laurenz Janscha in his landscape class. After Janschas' death, he became his teacher Joseph Mößmer in 1812. In 1810, Ender had already received the first prize of the landscape painting academy. After several study trips, Thomas Ender was awarded the grand prize for landscape painting by the emperor in 1817. Prince Clemens Metternich acquired this work and encouraged the artist from then on. He thus enabled Ender to participate in the Austrian expedition to Brazil in 1817, where he produced more than 700 drawings and watercolours. After his return, Metternich took him to Rome, where Ender was allowed to stay until 1823 as an imperial pensionary. From 1823 Ender worked for Metternich in the Austrian Salzkammergut and in 1824 became a member of the Vienna Academy. He made a trip to Paris in 1826. In 1828 he was appointed chamber painter by Duke Johann and in 1837 took part in his journey to the Orient and South Russia, which took him to Constantinople and Greece. From 1837 to 1851 Ender was a professor at the Vienna Academy and created several series of landscapes, which were often captured by English artists. In 1845 Ender was appointed Imperial Councillor and retired in 1851. He was awarded the Franz Joseph Medal in 1853 and received the civil law in 1854. In 1855 and 1857 Ender resumed his travels in Italy. Thomas Ender had been married to Theresia Arvay since 1832 and after her death on 30 September 1875 he was buried in the central cemetery in Vienna. Thomas Ender combined his artistic ability in landscape painting with a scientific interest in topographical conditions. His paintings of Brazil are of particular value. In addition, Ender was interested in a topographically accurate collection of the Alpine countries, which was developed on behalf of and in the interest of the imperial house. Ender thus followed a trend of the time that sought to document the world and nature as comprehensively and accurately as possible, similar to the painter Johann Knapp who had captured the plant treasures of the Austrian imperial house in Schönbrunn Palace with the greatest artistic championship.

Literature: H.Fuchs "Lexicon of Austrian Artists of the 19th Century", Vienna, 1975.

Inscription: signed lower verso - pencil inscription with topographical title.

Technique: each work: watercolor on paper.

Dimensions: each unframed w 7 5/8" x h 4 3/4" (19.2 x 12 cm), with mat w 10 5/8" x h 8 1/4" (27 x 20.7 cm).

Condition: very good original condition. Shipping: postage at seller's expense.