Artwork
Bildnis des Metzgers und Kunsthändlers Heinrich Cramer
Bildnis des Metzgers und Kunsthändlers Heinrich Cramer is an oil painting by the Realist artist David Sulzer. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1847, this oil portrait by Swiss painter David Sulzer captures Heinrich Cramer, a figure known both for his work in the meat trade and his involvement in the art market. Executed in a realistic manner, the painting is part of the permanent collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich, offering a glimpse into mid‑19th‑century portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, Heinrich Cramer, is presented with a composed demeanor, his gaze meeting the viewer directly. His attire—a dark jacket, white shirt, and bow tie—along with his unkempt hair and beard, suggest a blend of modest professionalism and personal character, reflecting his dual roles as butcher and art dealer in a period when occupational identity often informed portraiture.
Technique & Style
Sulzer employed oil pigments to achieve a naturalistic rendering, emphasizing subtle tonal variations across the subject’s face and clothing.
Sulzer employed oil pigments to achieve a naturalistic rendering, emphasizing subtle tonal variations across the subject’s face and clothing. The background is rendered in a light, neutral hue that recedes, allowing the figure to dominate the composition. The brushwork is controlled, supporting a lifelike depiction without overt dramatization, characteristic of Swiss portrait practice in the early nineteenth century.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the portrait entered the holdings of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it remains on display. Its presence in the museum’s collection underscores the institution’s commitment to preserving works by regional artists and documenting the social fabric of 19th‑century Switzerland through individual likenesses.
Artist & collection
Artist
David Sulzer (9 September 1784, Winterthur - 14 September 1864, near Münsterlingen) was a Swiss portrait and genre painter.
