The Richter factory is in the foreground, with Rudolsbad in the center of
the picture. The Richter Villa is found on the right. The building
in the mid-background of the picture is the military base from the German
Empire (pre W.W.I) era. The large light-colored building on the left
was for officers, the long low redish building was the barracks. The
buildings are still in good condition, despite having been abandoned
for years, and is being rejuvenated today. The building in the
far background is Heidecksburg, the residence of the Prince of
Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. The railroad along the river bank can also
be seen.
Rudolstadt
looks much the same today, with all of the buildings clearly identifiable.
This lithograph was made between 1886 (the date of the completion of
the Richter Villa) and 1898 (the date of the "great fire"). Thanks
to LP gas, the brown smoke haze is gone and Rudolstadt is today just as bright
and clean as it looks in this picture. This area of Germany suffered
no war damage, so all of the buildings (and the murals in Heidecksburg and
the inlay work in the Richter Villa), are original.
* * * * * * * *