Artwork
Eine Hirtenfamilie. Gewitter in der römischen Campagna
Eine Hirtenfamilie. Gewitter in der römischen Campagna is an oil painting by the Biedermeier artist Johann Conrad Zeller. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.
About this work
Overview
Johann Conrad Zeller’s 1835 oil painting, *Eine Hirtenfamilie. Gewitter in der römischen Campagna*, presents a small pastoral group caught in a stormy moment on the Roman countryside. Executed during the Biedermeier period, the work combines a modest, domestic scene with the atmospheric qualities of a sudden thunderstorm.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a shepherd family: a woman in a white headscarf and red dress, a man in a brown coat, a second woman in white, and a dog at their feet. Their gathered posture under a darkening sky suggests shelter and solidarity, reflecting everyday resilience in a rural setting.
Technique & Style
Zeller employs oil on canvas to render the rolling hills and cloud‑filled horizon with muted earth tones, while the brighter garments provide focal contrast. The handling of light and shadow, reminiscent of chiaroscuro, gives depth to the figures and emphasizes the looming storm.
History & Provenance
Born and deceased in Weinegg, Switzerland, Zeller was active in landscape, portrait, and historical painting, also producing anatomical watercolors. After its creation, the canvas entered the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it remains on public display.
Context
The painting reflects Biedermeier interests in intimate, middle‑class life and the idealisation of rural simplicity. By situating a domestic scene within the iconic Roman Campagna, Zeller merges Swiss sensibility with the romantic allure of Italian scenery popular among 19th‑century artists.
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Konrad Zeller (2 May 1807, Weinegg - 1 March 1856, Weinegg) was a Swiss painter.
