Artwork

Landscape with Full Moon

Landscape with Full Moon, by Johann Georg Trautmann, unspecified, 1748
Landscape with Full Moon, by Johann Georg Trautmann, unspecified, 1748

Landscape with Full Moon is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Johann Georg Trautmann. It dates from 1748 and is held in the collection of the Städel Museum.

About this work

Overview

Johann Georg Trautmann’s 1748 oil painting, Landscape with Full Moon, is part of the collection at Frankfurt’s Städel Museum. The work presents a nocturnal countryside scene illuminated by a full moon, inviting the viewer into a quiet, atmospheric setting that balances natural elements with a modest architectural feature.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a modest house with a steep roof perched on a gentle rise, surrounded by trees and low shrubbery. Beyond the dwelling, undulating hills lead to distant mountains, while a reflective water body hints at a lake or river. The moonlight casts a soft, silvery veil over the terrain, evoking a sense of calm and contemplation.

Technique & Style

Trautmann employs a restrained palette of muted tones, allowing the lunar illumination to define the scene’s contrast. Delicate brushwork renders subtle textures in foliage and rock, while the interplay of light and shadow creates depth, guiding the eye from the foreground house to the distant horizon. The overall effect is one of quiet atmospheric realism rather than dramatic chiaroscuro.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid‑18th century, Landscape with Full Moon has remained in the public domain through its acquisition by the Städel Museum, where it is displayed as part of the institution’s holdings of German landscape painting. Its presence in the museum’s collection underscores the period’s interest in nocturnal vistas and the gentle rendering of light.

Artist & collection

Städel Museum

Museum

Städel Museum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Städel Museum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.