Artwork
Moonlit river landscape
Moonlit river landscape is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Gottlieb Schiffner. It dates from 1775 and is held in the collection of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1775, this oil painting by Gottlieb Schiffner depicts a nocturnal river scene. The work is part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister and measures the tranquil interaction of water, light, and landscape under a moonlit sky.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a gently flowing river flanked by a modest docked boat on the left bank. Moonlight spreads across the surface, illuminating the surrounding foliage and distant hills, evoking a quiet, contemplative atmosphere that invites the viewer to linger in the night’s calm.
Technique & Style
Schiffner employs chiaroscuro to model the landscape, contrasting the luminous moonlit reflections with the darker silhouettes of trees and hills. The soft gradations of tone and careful handling of atmospheric perspective create depth, while the brushwork suggests a delicate rendering of foliage and water.
History & Provenance
The painting has been housed in the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister since its acquisition, representing an example of Schiffner’s late‑18th‑century output. Its documented provenance traces back to the artist’s workshop, with no recorded changes of ownership before entering the museum’s collection.
Artist & collection
