About the Work
The sketchbook, used between winter 1839 and spring 1840, accompanied Ludwig Metz on trips to Höchst in Hessia. In addition to rather realistic depictions of the Church of Justinus, the castle or the medieval city wall, Metz also and above all recorded details of frieze ornaments, some of which he probably copied from master books or modelled after them. Unlike the architectural and city views captured in pencil, Metz did not date or label these ornamental studies. However, the artist coloured many of the precisely arranged frieze, tendril and palmette studies with a brush, and occasionally also drew them with a pen. They seem to fulfil the function of a sample collection and may have served Metz later as templates for his own works.
For a full sketchbook description, please see “Research”
