This extensive early 18th-century oil painting attributed to German artist Franz Joachim Beich (1665-1748) depicts a mountainous Italianate vista with Roman soldiers, buildings, and distant fortified town. Beich was a renowned painter of landscapes and religious scenes who became the court painter to Maximilian III Joseph, the Elector of Bavaria.Backlit by the gentle glow of a falling sun, two Roman soldiers discuss their next move. One points into the distance, along a dusty trackway, as if to suggest a route ahead. Carefully rendered, their colourful forms are prominent against a muted, yet detailed, backdrop. To the right, a sinuous tree provides a clear vertical, which strengthens the composition. Beich often employed this technique when painting various views of the Italian countryside. While the mountains, with their distinguished strength and presence, guide the eye outwards across a far-reaching cornucopia of landmarks.Although born in Germany, Beich developed his style...