Artwork
Der barmherzige Samariter. 2. Fassung
Der barmherzige Samariter. 2. Fassung is an oil painting by Heinrich Altherr. It dates from 1927 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.
About this work
Overview
Heinrich Altherr completed the second version of *Der barmherzige Samariter* in 1927 using oil on canvas. The painting is part of the Kunsthaus Zürich’s permanent collection. Known primarily for large-scale religious and civic murals, Altherr turned here to a smaller, intimate narrative, adapting a biblical parable into a quiet, contemporary scene grounded in rural Swiss life.
Subject & Meaning
The scene illustrates the parable of the Good Samaritan, depicting a traveler aided by a passerby beside a stationary horse. The figures’ modest attire and the unadorned setting strip the story of its biblical grandeur, emphasizing compassion as an everyday act. The stillness of the horse and the subdued gestures suggest a moment of quiet moral choice, not dramatic intervention.
Technique & Style
Altherr employed a restrained palette, contrasting the warm red and ochre of the figures’ clothing against a dark, cool background. Brushwork is deliberate but not ornate, with soft transitions between light and shadow to suggest depth. The composition centers the two men and the horse in a tight, horizontal arrangement, reinforcing the intimacy of the encounter.
History & Provenance
This 1927 version is the second iteration of Altherr’s treatment of the subject. The first version, likely painted earlier, was replaced or revised to refine the emotional tone. The painting entered the Kunsthaus Zürich’s collection shortly after completion, reflecting institutional recognition of Altherr’s shift from monumental public art to introspective genre scenes.
Context
In the 1920s, Swiss art increasingly turned toward realism and psychological nuance, moving away from idealized historical themes. Altherr’s reinterpretation of a biblical story aligned with this trend, grounding sacred narratives in the visual language of rural labor and ordinary human interaction, resonating with postwar values of humility and solidarity.
Legacy
Though less known than his murals, this painting exemplifies Altherr’s ability to convey moral gravity through understated means. It remains a key example of early 20th-century Swiss genre painting, illustrating how traditional narratives were reimagined in modern, secular terms without losing their ethical weight.
Artist & collection
Artist
Heinrich Altherr (11 April 1878, in Basel – 27 April 1947, in Zürich) was a Swiss painter. He is best known for his murals in churches and various public buildings.
