Bellotto`s The Fortress of Königstein from the North acquired by the National Gallery
(Artdaily.org)

The Fortress of Königstein from the North by Bellotto, which was due to be exported from Britain, has been saved for the nation and went on display in Trafalgar Square today (Tuesday 22 August 2017). Bernardo Bellotto’s works are among the very greatest of 18th-century view paintings, and The Fortress of Königstein from the North is undoubtedly one of the finest examples. It stands out as a highly evocative and beautiful depiction of a fortified location within an extensive panoramic landscape, and has no real parallel in European painting. If Bellotto was once overlooked in favour of his more famous uncle, Canaletto, today he is recognised as one of the most distinctive artistic personalities of his century. The acquisition of this masterpiece by the National Gallery will cement Bellotto’s reputation with both British and international visitors, giving him a significant place on the walls at Trafalgar Square that is long