Dresden in Moonlight 1851

"Dresden in Moonlight" is an oil painting created in 1851 by Peder Balke, a Norwegian painter known for his maritime landscapes. The painting showcases a nocturnal cityscape of Dresden, Germany, bathed in soft moonlight, with a silhouetted cityscape along the Elbe River. The scene is dominated by a pale, ethereal moon, which casts a warm glow over the water and the city's rooftops. The painting's small size, 17 x 23 cm, makes it an intimate and evocative piece that captures the beauty of Dresden under a moonlit sky. Balke's signature style, often characterized by a romantic and atmospheric approach, is evident in this work. "Dresden in Moonlight" offers a glimpse into the artistic sensibility of 19th-century Europe, where the allure of the night and the beauty of nature were often intertwined.