House in the Mountains

landscape by Adam Elsheimer

Adam Elsheimer (1578-1610) tondi painted using oils on wood. (During the Renaissance circular works of art were referred to as tondi.)

Like many of Elsheimer’s pieces, this painting plays with light to great effect. Like the title implies, this painting features a country house high in the mountains.

Far below on a plateau, several people are walking along a path. The Elsheimer was from Germany, it seems to me that the red roof on the large house would indicate that he painted this landscape while he was living in Italy.