Franz Catel and Carl Ludwig Frommel had a long friendship. Frommel came to Rome in 1813, Catel had been in Italy since 1811 and stayed for the rest of his life. His Œuvre includes history, genre, landscape, interiors and portraits. Today, his oil sketches are particularly captivating. Catel also painted his friend in this technique. He captured the clothing with quick strokes and focussed on the face. Frommel's gaze is alert and intense, the chin is shadowed, the mouth bears the faint hint of a smile. Over almost 200 years, this portrait has lost none of its vibrancy.