Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Jacob Alt studied oil painting, watercolor and lithography in Vienna, Austria where he built his career. Alt became well-known for his views of Rome, Venice, and the Danube River area. Between 1833 and 1848, Alt and his son, Rudolf, contributed to the series of large-scale watercolors known as Guckkastenblätter, commissioned by the Archduke Ferdinand, later Emperor Ferdinand I. These watercolors depicted the most picturesque sites of the Austrian Empire and Italy, and a number were featured in an exhibition entitled “Jakob and Rudolf von Alt. At His Majesty’s Service” at the Albertina Museum in Vienna in 2010. The watercolors by the Alts represent the peak of Austrian watercolor painting and were meant to reveal to Ferdinand I the beauty of his empire and its adjacent lands.

Jakob Alt came to Vienna from Frankfurt in 1810. However, he did not study Viennese Academy Historia - as had previously been assumed. The artist had to provide financial support after the fast foundation of a family.

Between 1813 and 1820, the series "Mahlerische and strange views of the various provinces of the Austrian monarchy and the neighboring countries" was created for the Kunstverlag Artaria.

After that, a 264-page picture series of "Danube Views from the Origin to the Excursion into the Black Sea" appeared for the lithographic institution Adolph Kunike, Vienna 1826.

Jakob Alt was born 1789 in Frankfurt am Main. He received his first training with the portrait and miniature painter J.P. Beer. In 1811 he continued his studies in Vienna and focused on the training of landscape painting. He went on study trips through the Alps and the Danube area as well as Northern Italy and Rome.

His works are characterized by a particular realistic style. In addition, Jakob Alt was commissioned to paint watercolors on behalf of the Emperor Ferdinand. His sons Franz and Rudolf also successfully worked as painters and lithographers.