Friedrich — One of the key ideas that underpinned the Romantic Age was the notion of the sublime, and no Romantic painter captured the sublime more effectively than the German landscapist Caspar David Friedrich. A deeply pious, somber man, Friedrich hardly ever left his homeland, and his genius did not reveal itself until he was in his 30s. When it did, the result was landscape painting like nothing ever seen before. Rich in symbolism, Friedrich's landscapes captured the spiritual power of nature, making it easy for viewers to be both overwhelmed and attracted by his painstakingly detailed scenes of silence. In Friedrich's sublime natural landscape, humanity is small and mortal, as paintings like Abbey of the Oakwoods confirm. Sadly, Friedrich's own life was blighted by bereavement, torment, sickness, and obscurity. By the time of his death, he was all but forgotten. It is only now that his huge contribution to Romantic painting can be appreciated.