Artwork
The Robber and His Child
The Robber and His Child is an oil painting by the German Romanticist artist Karl Friedrich Lessing. It dates from 1832 and is held in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Painted in 1832 by Karl Friedrich Lessing, a German artist of the Romantic era, *The Robber and His Child* is an oil painting exemplifying the Düsseldorf school’s blend of narrative drama and realistic detail.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a poignant scene of a troubled robber, identifiable by his rifle and bag, sitting with his barefoot child on a rocky hillside. His worried expression, with head in hand, conveys a sense of desperation or regret, while the child’s leaning posture suggests dependence and vulnerability.
Technique & Style
Characterized by muted greens and browns, the work employs the period’s typical attention to emotional depth and atmospheric setting. The detailed realism of the figures and the landscape, set against a distant mountainous backdrop, aligns with the Düsseldorf school’s artistic tenets.
History & Provenance
Created in 1832, the painting is attributed to Karl Friedrich Lessing, a grandnephew of the renowned writer Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. Specific details on its commission, early ownership, or exhibition history are not provided.
Context
*The Robber and His Child* reflects the German Romanticism movement’s emphasis on emotion, nature, and often, the plight of the individual. The subject matter, focusing on a criminal figure in a moment of personal crisis, may touch on themes of morality, family, and the human condition.
Legacy
While the painting’s direct influence or widespread recognition is not highlighted, it contributes to the broader legacy of the Düsseldorf school and German Romantic painting, offering insights into the artistic and thematic preoccupations of the early 19th century.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Karl Friedrich Lessing, also known by Carl Friedrich Lessing (15 February 1808 – 4 January 1880), was a German historical and landscape painter, grandnephew of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing and one of the main exponents of the Düsseldorf school…
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