In 1869 he returned to Italy together with Marstrand under an award from the Ancker Fund ("Anckerske Legat"), and painted several Italian landscapes. That same year he painted "En Skovsø, Sommeraften" (A Forest Lake, Summer Evening) and in 1874 "En Sommerdag i Dyrehaven; et Tordenvejr er trukket forbi og Solen atter kommen frem" (A Summer Day in Dyrehave; a Thunderstorm has Passed and the Sun Comes Out Again), two paintings considered among his most important and harmonious works. The latter was his last large work, and was an important study example of his technique for his students.