In the late 18th century, Romanticism spread across Europe, in contrast to the sober, rational art of Neoclassicism. The Swiss discovered the visual potential of their own landscapes, committing the majestic Alpine environment and the eternal ice of the glaciers to canvas. With over 150 works, the exhibition (Wild at Heart) reveals the considerable contribution made by Swiss artists to the development of European landscape painting.
The show also follows them to academies abroad, and explores the close ties between Swiss and other European artists. The overview will also extend to famous Romantics from other countries such as Caspar David Friedrich, Eugène Delacroix and J.M.W. Turner, adding an international perspective to the development and influence of Swiss Romanticism.