Salomon Gessner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Salomon Gessner
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Portrait by Anton Graff (1765/66)
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| Born | 1 April 1730 |
| Died | 2 March 1788 (aged 57) Zürich
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| Nationality | Swiss |
| Known for | Painting, Poetry |
Salomon Gessner (1730–1788) was a talented Swiss artist and writer. He was known for his beautiful landscape paintings, detailed etchings, and especially his poems called Idylls. He also worked as a government official and even published a newspaper!
Contents
A Young Artist's Journey
Salomon Gessner was born in Zürich, Switzerland, on April 1, 1730. His father, Hans Konrad Gessner, was a printer and publisher. From a young age, Salomon lived in a home his father bought in Zürich.
When he was 19, Salomon started an apprenticeship at a bookshop in Berlin. But he soon realized he loved art more than bookselling. He decided to focus on landscape painting and etching, which is a way of making prints using acid.
After a short visit to Hamburg, he discovered a love for poetry too. He read works by famous poets like Karl Wilhelm Ramler.
Finding His Path
Salomon returned home without a clear plan. He didn't want to join his father's business. Instead, he joined a group of young men called the Dienstags-Compagnie. They met to talk and have fun, often in nature. They loved being outdoors and imagined themselves as ancient shepherds, enjoying the beauty of the natural world. This love for nature, called "Naturschwärmerei," greatly influenced his art and writing.
His first published poem was about a Swiss person singing to their armed girlfriend. His first painting, Die Nacht (The Night), came out in 1753. A longer poem, Daphnis (1754), was inspired by an old Greek story.
His most famous work, Idyllen (Idylls), was first published in 1756. An idyll is a short poem or story that describes a peaceful, simple scene, often in the countryside. He later collected his works into a volume in 1762. After that, he spent many years focusing mainly on painting.
Life and Work in Zürich
In 1761, Salomon helped start the Helvetic Society, a group that promoted Swiss culture and science. That same year, he married Judith Heidegger, even though there was some disagreement because her father was a business rival of his own father.
A year later, his daughter Dorothea was born. He also became the artistic director for a porcelain factory in Kilchberg-Schooren. His son Konrad was born the next year.
Public Service
Salomon Gessner was not just an artist; he was also involved in public life. In 1765, he was elected to represent the porcelain guild on the Zürich High Council, which was an important governing body.
Three years later, he became an Obervogt, a type of supervisor, for the area of Erlenbach. His son Heinrich was born around this time. Later, he held the same important job for Wipkingen.
In 1780, he started publishing and editing the Zürcher Zeitung newspaper. This newspaper later became the famous Neue Zürcher Zeitung in 1821.
From 1781 until he passed away, he had the title of "Sihlherr." This meant he was the main person in charge of Sihlwald, a large forest. His job was to make sure Zürich had enough firewood. He loved spending his summers there, living in a small cabin in the forest.
After his death, a monument was built to honor him in Platzspitz park in Zürich in 1792/93. It was one of the first monuments in Switzerland built to celebrate a national hero. A special plaque also marks his lifelong home. Several streets and a bridge in Switzerland are named after him.
Famous Works
- Idyllen (Idylls): This collection of poems, first published in 1756, is his most famous work. It describes peaceful scenes of nature and simple country life.
- His collected works were published in Zürich from 1777 to 1778. These were later translated into French and Italian, showing how popular his work was across Europe.
See also
In Spanish: Salomon Gessner para niños
