Caspar David Friedrich’s sister Catharina lived in Breesen, 14 km north-west of Neubrandenburg, together with her husband, the Pastor August Sponholz, and her family. The couple married in 1791 and lived in the rectory.
The parish church, rectory and garden can still be visited today, although the rectory was completely reconstructed in the 1990s. Parts of the former park with an unusually high number of old oak trees, have also survived. It is very likely that these old trees once inspired Caspar David Friedrich. Records show that Friedrich visited Breesen in 1806 and 1809. Several of Friedrich’s works, including portraits of members of the Sponholz family as well as studies of oak trees and farm houses, were painted here.