Julius Gentalen was one of the artists of the most interesting fate of pre-war Estonia. When as a rule being a success in the artistic world presupposed “Pallas” education or studies at a number of studio schools, then Gentalen’s way to art was considerably more complicated. At the same time the “complication” also reflects his determined will and ability to become a recognized author as a self-studied person. After different schools Gentalen also found time to study law, but he was continuously moving towards painting and watercolours according to the teaching of Ants Murakin and Villem Ormisson. The second half of the 1930ies witnesses the artistic peak of Gentalen. His works are taken to the exhibition of the Estonian art in Riga and Kaunas, but also to Rome, Antwerp and elsewhere. The local museums, incl. the State Museum of Arts, started to acquire into their funds the cityscapes originating exactly from this period. The present view of Tallinn by Gentalen is a rare representative of his creative peak, which coincides a skilful ability to join a true-to-life view of the city and a freehanded handling of colours. At the same time Gentalen masterfully divides colours on the picture surface: the white clouds talk to a strange tree, being placed into the lower right corner, the green belt of trees is a contrast to a brownish-grey Toompea wall.