Art Institute of Chicago

The Large Italian Landscape

Johann Wilhelm Schirmer

Date

1841

Medium

Etching on ivory chine and buff wove paper

Culture

Germany

Department

Prints and Drawings

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

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.

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