Salomon Gessner
Salomon Gessner (1730-1788) was a Swiss painter and poet renowned for his depictions of pastoral landscapes. He spent most of his life in Zurich, where he developed a style that emphasized idyllic themes, often reflecting classical antiquity and serene rural life. Gessner's poetry, particularly his early work "Lied eines Schweizers an sein bewaffnetes Mädchen," resonated with audiences and focused on bucolic imagery. Despite being described by some scholars as lacking inspiration, his artistic and literary contributions were widely popular during his lifetime.
In addition to his creative pursuits, Gessner was a successful businessman and a key cultural figure, known for founding the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) in 1780, a prominent newspaper that played a significant role in Switzerland's transition to a more centralized modern state. His relationships with contemporary luminaries, including fellow writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, further highlighted his influence in the cultural landscape of his era. Gessner's legacy endures through his art, poetry, and the enduring significance of NZZ in European journalism.
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Salomon Gessner
Painter
- Born: April 1, 1730
- Birthplace: Zurich, Switzerland
- Died: March 2, 1788
- Place of death: Zurich, Switzerland
Biography
Salomon Gessner was a painter and poet who lived most of his life in Zurich, Switzerland. Gessner’s writing and paintings skillfully portrayed his mastery of rendering pastoral landscapes. His work, considered adept yet uninspired by scholars, was hugely popular in its day. Gessner made his living as a publisher and bookseller, which acquainted him with many of the cultural luminaries of his time, including Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who was a close friend. He was the founder of Neue Zürcher Zeitung, which is still in publication and is considered one of the great serious newspapers of Europe.
Gessner was born in Zurich and spent most of his life there. A brief sojourn to study in Germany brought him under the influence of two leading German poets: Karl Wilhem Ramler of Berlin and Friederich von Hagedorn of Hamburg. Gessener’s poetry dealt almost exclusively with idyllic pastoral themes. His first popular work was Lied eines Schweizers an sein bewaffnetes Mädchen (1751). His painting was also primarily pastoral in its focus, depicting conventional scenes of classical antiquity in ruin, grazing animals, and leisurely bands of musicians.
As a businessman, Gessner had the ability to help himself and his friends. He published much of his own work, which was illustrated with his own etchings. He was a partner in a porcelain concern that produced plates bearing pastoral scenes of his own design. His most-enduring enterprise, however, was Neue Zürcher Zeitung, today known as NZZ, which was founded in 1780. NZZ had an international orientation from its outset, and over the years was an influential instrument in the transformation of Switzerland from a loose federation of local cantons into a more-centralized modern state.