rudolf ritter von alt, an austrian landscape and architectural painter, was born on august 28, 1812, in vienna. he gained nobility in 1889, allowing him to bear the title of a ritter (knight). von alt's artistic talent was evident from an early age, and he went on to study at the akademie der bildenden künste in vienna. early life and career von alt's father, jakob alt, was a lithographer, and his brother, franz alt, was also a painter. this artistic background likely influenced von alt's early interest in painting. he began his career by focusing on landscapes, using watercolors to create re…