Artwork

Bildnis des Vergolders Gottlob Bernhard aus Stuttgart (getauft 1792)

Bildnis des Vergolders Gottlob Bernhard aus Stuttgart (getauft 1792) is an oil painting by Hans Jakob Oeri. It dates from 1832 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1832 by Swiss artist Hans Jakob Oeri, this oil portrait presents Gottfried Bernhard, a gilder originally from Stuttgart who was baptized in 1792. The work belongs to the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich and exemplifies Oeri’s practice of rendering individual likenesses with restrained compositional elements.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter, a middle‑aged man with curly hair, is shown in a dark coat over a white shirt, gazing straight ahead with an unembellished expression. The neutral demeanor and plain background suggest a focus on professional identity rather than personal narrative, emphasizing the respectable status of a craftsman in early‑19th‑century society.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, Oeri employs a limited palette that contrasts the dark clothing with a softly illuminated backdrop, allowing the figure to emerge without distraction. The brushwork is smooth and controlled, rendering facial features and fabric textures with a modest degree of realism characteristic of Swiss portraiture of the period.

History & Provenance

Hans Jakob Oeri, born in Kyburg and active mainly in Zürich, worked across painting, drawing, and lithography. After its creation, the portrait entered the holdings of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it remains on view as part of the museum’s representation of Swiss portraiture from the early nineteenth century.