St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna

Rudolf von Alt, the master of cityscapes, was meticulous in his attention to detail. His St. Stephen’s Square is a hive of activity. A procession is passing through, a store’s displays attract customers. Some people stand still in pious contemplation, while others crowd around the store regardless, and a carriage waits in the shade. All this takes place in front of the Gothic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which Alt has depicted against a low sky. The cathedral looks like a backdrop on a stage and, as in a theater, pieces of scenery jut into the “set” on either side. On the left a steeply angled façade draws the viewer’s eyes into the pictorial depths, whereas the Baroque Lazansky House on the right positively blocks our line of sight.