Johann Wilhelm Schirmer
German, 1807-1863
The Large Italian Landscape
INV-1370
Johann Wilhelm Schirmer
German, 1807-18631841
The Large Italian Landscape
Johann Wilhelm Schirmer German, 1807-1863 →etchingprint
Date
1841
Medium
Etching on ivory chine and buff wove paper
Dimensions
Image: 31.8 × 43.2 cm (12 9/16 × 17 1/16 in.); Chine: 41.5 × 51 cm (16 3/8 × 20 1/8 in.); Plate: 42.7 × 52 cm (16 13/16 × 20 1/2 in.); Sheet: 45.6 × 55.6 cm (18 × 21 15/16 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Stanley Field Endowment and Purchase Fund
Although originally from Germany, Johann Wilhelm Schirmer traveled to Italy, where he found solace in the countryside. The artist preferred to work en plein air, as did many of his predecessors, including Claude Lorrain and Nicolas Poussin. Later in life, Schirmer became the director of the academy in Karlsruhe (1854–63) and donated many of his plein air works to the school as study materials. His paintings were known for their beautiful and recognizable vegetation, which also permeates his etchings. In The Large Italian Landscape, two wanderers on horseback enjoy an afternoon outing, framed by a lush forest and meandering stream. Landscapes became increasingly popular in 19th-century Europe, offering an escape for city dwellers and Romantics alike.
Also notable
Works in the same vein
