The rising sun lights the ruined castle (Burgruine) above the vineyards of Dürnstein on the Danube River in Austria. This World Heritage Wachau region grows mainly Grüner Veltliner and Riesling grape varieties. The castle is famous for its incarceration of Richard the Lionheart (Löwenherz, Coeur de Lion) by Duke Leopold in December 1192. Richard was returning from the Middle East via the Adriatic. A storm drove him ashore near Venice and he made his way overland to Vienna. Unfortunately his enemy Duke Leopold arrested Richard in Vienna and took him to the Duke’s castle above Dürnstein. Oil painting on linen on board. 40.6cm high by 30.5cm wide by 0.5cm deep.
