Market Scene with Mainz Cathedral, 1867, Oil on Wood, Framed

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This 19th-century oil painting shows a lively view of Liebfrauenplatz in Mainz, one of the city's historic central squares. The … Read more This 19th-century oil painting shows a lively view of Liebfrauenplatz in Mainz, one of the city's historic central squares. The composition is dominated by the Mainz Cathedral and the surrounding buildings, while the foreground is animated by market stalls and numerous figures engaged in everyday activities. The carefully observed street life conveys a vivid impression of urban life in Mainz during the mid-19th century, balanced by a calm and well-structured overall composition.

Of particular historical interest is the depiction of the so-called "Mollersches Ei," a pointed wrought-iron dome that was added in 1828 by the Hessian court architect Georg Moller to the Gothic bell tower. This unusual architectural feature was dismantled again in 1870, partly due to concerns about its weight causing cracks in the masonry, and partly because the iron dome failed to gain public acceptance. Its presence in the painting documents a short-lived but distinctive phase in the architectural history of the site.

The work is executed in oil on wood and bears a monogram and the date "67" at the lower left on a stone block, the date referring to the year 1867. It is preserved in its original period frame, which complements the historical character of the painting. See less