Cityscape Art from Modernmasters:

Cityscape Art dates from the first century A.D. when a fresco at the Baths of Trajan in Rome depicts a bird's eye view of an ancient city. In the Middle Ages Cityscape Art appeared as a background for portraits and biblical themes. From the 16th up to the 18th century numerous copperplate prints and etchings were made showing cities in bird's eye view. The function of these prints was to provide a map-like overview.

Halfway the 17th century Cityscape Art became an independent genre in the Netherlands. In his famous 'View of Delft' in 1660-1661 Jan Vermeer painted a quite accurate portrait of the city Delft. Cities like Amsterdam, Haarlem and The Hague also became popular subjects for paintings. Painters from other European countries (i.e. Great Britain, France, Germany) followed the Dutch example. The 18th century was a flourishing period for Cityscape Art in Venice (Canaletto, Guardi).

At the end of the 19th century the impressionists focused on the atmosphere and dynamics of everyday life in the city. Suburban and industrial areas, building sites and railway yards also became subjects for cityscapes. During the 20th century attention became focused on abstract and conceptual art, and thus the production of Cityscape Art declined. American painter Edward Hopper, who stayed loyal to figurative painting, created intriguing images of the American scene. With a revival of figurative art at the end of the 20th century comes a revaluation of the cityscape. Well-known living cityscape painters are Rackstraw Downes, Antonio López García, and Richard Estes. American artist Yvonne Jacquette has made a specialty of aerial cityscapes.

The 21st century has ushured in Cityscape Art and cityscape artists as well. Prominent work has been done by the architectural artist, Stephen Wiltshire, a London born artist with autism. Whiltshire is well known for his many panoramic cityscape renderings that he composes from memory, usually after taking a short overhead view of the city he is about to draw. He has completed memorized cityscapes of London, New York City, and Tokyo, to name a few.