The architect H.C. Stilling was one of the few Danish artists who were able to move across Central Europe and Italy. He visited Greece and Turkey as well as Egypt. Greece was for a long time under Turkish control and so difficult of access. So it was only a small number of people who were able to visit the cradle of Western culture. Among the few were the painter Martinus Rørbye and Hans Christian Andersen in addition to H.C. Stilling. However, Stilling was still active in the Italian-speaking area. In this watercolour, he portrays the chancel in the Capella Palatina, the chapel of the ancient Sicilian kings in the royal palace in Palermo.
