The Gulf of Naples. Moonlight

During his time in Italy in 1820–21, Dahl embraced open-air painting, presumably prompted by Eckersberg. He painted numerous studies out of doors, often in the company of the German painter Franz Ludwig Catel. However, Dahl also created carefully finished paintings inspired by Friedrich’s art, which he knew from his recent stay in Dresden. This atmospheric nocturnal scene from the Gulf of Naples resembles several similar scenes by the German artist. A number of elements in the painting may have been adopted from Friedrich: the boats and anchors on the beach, the fishnets hung to dry, and the full moon, partially covered by clouds, yet reflected in the water. And, of course, the lonely Romantic figure who has stopped his wandering, lost in thought.