The Berlin Years and Early Studies

Rudolf Schick began his formal training in 1858 at the Royal Prussian Academy of Arts in Berlin. Under the guidance of Wilhelm Schirmer, he learned the foundations of his craft. His early years were marked by a movement through different landscapes, including a period spent in Bavaria between 1861 and 1862, specifically within Munich and Brannenburg.

The brushwork and subject matter often reflected the places he inhabited. In 1864, his work Prometheus Mourned by Oceanus and the Nereids earned him the State Prize for History Painter. This recognition opened doors to travel beyond German borders. He spent time in Paris and London, absorbing the atmosphere of these cities before turning his attention toward the south.

Travels through Italy and Rome

The warmth of the Mediterranean left a mark on his output. During his travels through Tyrol and Italy, Schick found himself in Rome, where the presence of Arnold Böcklin influenced his perspective. He spent time copying paintings from the Italian Renaissance, working on commissions for collectors such as Fritz von Farenheid.

His time in these regions resulted in various studies and illustrations. He produced forty-three illustrations for the book Italy, published by Engelhorn Verlag in Stuttgart. His sketches and watercolors often focused on specific botanical or architectural details, such as:

• Feigenbaum mit Rosenstrauch: a study in pencil and watercolor on light grey paper.
• Olivenbaum: a work rendered in pencil and watercolor.
• Isola Bella im Lago Maggiore: a detailed pencil and watercolor drawing.

Later Life and Final Works

Schick returned to Berlin in 1869. His later years included a marriage in 1879, after which he revisited Italy accompanied by his wife. Even as he settled back into German life, the themes of his work remained tied to his observations of nature and classical subjects, such as his Head of a Roman woman or Junges Mädchen mit Laute.

He lived in Berlin until his death in 1887. His legacy remains in the quiet details of his drawings and paintings, from landscapes like Blick über die Campagna to his more delicate works on paper that capture light and form through simple pencil and watercolor techniques.