(Vienna 1817-1904)
Naples, a lively scene on the promenade at dusk, with Vesuvius in the background, signed, dated H. Sattler 1873, oil on canvas, 94.5 x 158 cm, framed (frame damaged), (Rei)

Hubert Sattler not only followed his father in terms of painting per se: he also developed the type of panorama painting undertaken by his father. While his father, Johann Michael Sattler, had created famous panoramas of Salzburg, Hubert Sattler travelled far and wide, all the way to South America and the Far East, where he picked up everything he needed to make his so-called “cosmoramas”. These creations were large-format vistas of cities and landscapes, which were later artificially illuminated and viewed through optical lenses in specially darkened rooms. Due to Sattler’s great skill in producing his cosmoramas, so many people flocked to his exhibitions that Sattler made an excellent living from them and also exhibited them both throughout Europe and overseas.
Sattler’s talent is also evident in the present lot, depicting Naples and Vesuvius in the warm evening sun. This is clear not only in the detailed rendering of the panorama, but also in his ability to capture the appropriate mood masterfully. His “cosmoramas” saw Sattler hit the nail on the head in terms taste: in the age of world’s fairs, he satisfied the longing of his contemporaries for a view into the unknown distance.