Carl Gustav Rodde was born in August 1830, in the city of Gdansk, in today’s Poland.

During his early career, Rodde studied under german artist Johann Karl Schultz at the trade and art school in his hometown.

By 1852, Rodde moved to Dusseldorf, where he enrolled at the Dusseldorf Art Academy, there, the artist continued to develop his landscape painting until 1857. During his period at the Academy, Rodde studied under German printmaker and landscape painter Johann Wilhelm Schirmer and subsequently, Hans Fredrik Gude.

Between 1858 and 1861, the artist went to Italy, where he married an Italian woman.

Rodde concluded a beautiful landscape entitled An Italian Village by a Lake. The bright colors show a sunny day, in which the golden-brown vegetation contrasts with the deep blue tonalities of the lake, as well as the light blue sky.

A shadow covers the road in which a few local women walk upon. The artist ads a pop of bright red on the skirt of one of the women. This painting represents the Italian culture in the people, the architecture and the environment.

Carls Gustav Rodde died on March 1, 1906