Artwork
Landscape with Farm Animals on a Road
Landscape with Farm Animals on a Road is an oil painting by the Biedermeier artist Christian Georg Schütz. It dates from 1764 and is held in the collection of the Städel Museum.
About this work
Overview
Christian Georg Schütz’s Landscape with Farm Animals on a Road, executed around 1764, is a copper painting now in the collection of the Städel Museum. The work presents a quiet countryside scene where a meandering road, flanked by trees and distant structures, guides the eye through a pastoral setting populated by domestic livestock.
Subject & Meaning
In the foreground, a modest herd of cows, goats and sheep gathers beside a low fence, while a solitary figure—likely a farmer—walks along the road. The composition emphasizes everyday rural life, conveying a sense of calm routine and the harmonious relationship between people, animals and the landscape.
Technique & Style
Rendered on copper, the painting benefits from the metal’s smooth surface, allowing Schütz to achieve fine detail and a luminous finish. The palette is restrained, with muted earth tones that enhance the naturalistic portrayal of foliage, sky and the soft modeling of the animals’ forms.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑eighteenth century, the piece has remained in German collections, ultimately entering the holdings of Frankfurt’s Städel Museum. Its attribution to Schütz aligns with his known output of pastoral scenes, confirming the work’s place within his broader oeuvre.
Artist & collection
Artist
Christian Georg Schütz (1718–1791) was an artist, born in Flörsheim am Main.
