Two Men before a Waterfall at Sunset

1821

Rome: museums, acquaintances and landscapes for sale

In February 1821 Dahl goes to Rome, spending much time in museums, meeting other artists and painting pictures to sell, among them landscapes inspired by the mountains of Norway. He said that only in Rome did he truly come to appreciate Norwegian nature.

1821

Returns from Italy to his wife

In June 1821 Dahl returns north to Emilie and a quiet life of family and painting, and soon becomes part of Dresden's leading circles of poets, artists and scientists.

1822

Daughter born: Caroline Elisabeth Dahl

1822

Major article on Dahl in “Artistisches Notizenblatt”

The archaeologist C. A. Böttiger, a member of the same Dresden circle and publisher of “Artistisches Notizenblatt”, runs a major article on Dahl.

1823

A house for two families: Dahl moves in with Friedrich

The two families share a house in Dresden, and Dahl's students — Knud Baade, Peder Balke, Thomas Fearnley — come under the equal influence of both masters, though Dahl's own more spontaneous, painterly manner soon prevails. Clients sometimes commission pictures from both, a tranquil coastal scene by Friedrich to pair with a stormier subject by Dahl.

1824

Extraordinary professor at the Dresden Academy

Dahl and Friedrich are named extraordinary professors — without a chair but with a regular salary (other accounts say a professorial chair). Dahl later turns down an offer of a permanent chair, unwilling to be obliged to appear in class while busy with a painting; he forms no school around himself, letting his students cultivate their own styles.