Ernst Fries (June 22, 1801, Heidelberg - October 11, 1833, Karlsruhe) was a German painter, draftsman, watercolorist, engraver, printer, and lithographer. His works represent a transition from Romanticism to Realism. Thanks to his family's wealth, he was able to travel freely and receive a comprehensive artistic education without financial worries. He studied with various artists and traveled extensively in Germany and Italy, finally settling in Heidelberg, where he married and had four daughters. In 1831, he moved to Karlsruhe as a court painter for the Grand Duchy of Baden. His works mainly depicted landscapes and views, inspired by his stays in Italy. Unfortunately, he committed suicide in 1833, at the young age of 32.
