The Flute Playing Herdsman with Two Cows, late 18th-early 19th century
Carl Wilhelm Kolbeexpand_more
Etchingexpand_more
Gift of James A. Bergquist, Boston, in honor of Rachel McGarryexpand_more 2021.69.11
Not on Viewexpand_more
Carl Wilhelm Kolbe presents us here with a clear example of German Romanticism. Were it not for the reclining satyr seen in the foreground and the colonnaded temple in the distant clearing, this pastoral woodland tableau could have been seen on a Sunday afternoon stroll on the outskirts of Dessau, the capital of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau (in modern-day eastern Germany), where he taught French and served as the drawing master of the prince.
Kolbe starts with an appreciation for nature. Dead and broken limbs chart the trials of icy winters and thunderous storms through which the ancient, gnarled tree perservered. Fat cattle signal bounty for the table. Benign weather has given the young heardsman the opportunity to enjoy making music. Then Kolbe adds the magic. The satyr and the temple transport us to a mystical world that drops the constraints of time and science.
Details
- Title
- The Flute Playing Herdsman with Two Cows
- Artist Life
- 1759-1835
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2021.69.11
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Martens 47 II/II
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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