View of Budapest, 1881

Budapest was formed in 1873 from the unification of the towns built on either bank of the Danube: Pest, Buda and Óbuda. This aquarelle by Rudolf von Alt shows the view from the royal castle in Buda. The painting shows the Danube flowing through the capital, the lively river traffic, and factory chimneys, reflecting the industrialization of the city. This view of the banks of the Danube and the Hungarian capital can still be enjoyed today, and its beauty has earned it a place on the UNESCO world heritage list. One of the most outstanding exponents of watercolor painting, Rudolf von Alt first came to Pest in 1844, when he made aquarelles for the lithographies in an album entitled Buda-Pest, which stands out among vedute of the time for its natural, fresh quality.