Der Rhonegletscher. Fünf Panneaux aus dem Gartensaal des Hauses zum Wollenhof
c. 1775
on displayJohann Heinrich Wüest1741 Zürich – 1821 Zürich
We have 22 artworks by Johann Heinrich Wüest online.
We have 1784 paintings online.
We have 1784 paintings online.
Inv. 386-390 were commissioned by the Zurich silk manufacturer Salomon Escher (1743-1806) and entered the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich in 1877 as a gift from Heinrich Escher-Escher (1816-1896). They were part of an ensemble of 18 landscapes composed as wall decorations in the garden hall of the Haus zum Wollenhof in Zurich and were removed from it in 1867. There the present panneau probably occupied a special position. The remaining paintings are in private ownership.
Personal interpretation of a lost painting commissioned by John Strange (1732-1799); the English naturalist, archaeologist and art collector had financed a twelve-day 'Berg Reyse' for the painter in 1772, 'in order to record the Rohnen Glacier and other prospects for him' (transcript of Wüest's autobiography, Kunsthaus Zürich, study volume O 49).
Wüest's most famous painting represents an important stage in Swiss Alpine painting; the sky is reminiscent of 17th century Dutch painting (see for example Jacob Van Ruisdael, inv. R 29 to inv. R 32), which Wüest was familiar with from his stay in Amsterdam in 1760-1766.
Also known as
The Rhone Glacier
Le glacier du Rhône
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
image: 126 x 100 cm
Inventory number
386
Credit line
Kunsthaus Zürich, Donated by Heinrich Escher-Escher zum Wollenhof, 1877