The first edition of the collection that defined Salomon Gessner’s literary standing, Idyllen, was published in 1756. His career encompassed a wide array of roles in Zurich, including printer, bookseller, painter, and newspaper publisher. Throughout his life, he bridged the gap between visual arts and literature, securing a position as a significant figure in 18th-century Swiss cultural history.
Early Development and Interests
Born in 1730, Gessner was the son of Hans Konrad Gessner, a publisher and member of the High Council of Zürich. He spent his life residing at Münstergasse 9. In 1749, he began a bookselling apprenticeship in Berlin, though he abandoned it after one year to pursue landscape painting and etching. A subsequent visit to Hamburg introduced him to the poetry of Friedrich von Hagedorn and Karl Wilhelm Ramler, sparking his interest in writing.
Artistic and Literary Beginnings
Upon returning to Zurich, Gessner joined the Dienstags-Compagnie, a social group that met at a vineyard clubhouse in Selnau to discuss nature. This environment influenced his creative output, leading to his first painting, Die Nacht, in 1753. His literary debut included the poem Lied eines Schweizers an sein bewaffnetes Mädchen, followed by the work Daphnis in 1754. By 1762, he had produced a volume of collected works.
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In 1761, Gessner co-founded the Helvetic Society. That same year, he married Judith Heidegger. He served as the artistic director of the Porzellanmanufaktur Kilchberg-Schooren starting in 1762. His political career included representing the porcelain guild on the Zürich High Council beginning in 1765. Later, he served as an Obervogt for the Territoriale Entwicklung Zürichs, supervising Erlenbach and, after 1776, Wipkingen. He also acted as Sihlherr, the senior administrator responsible for the Sihlwald forest, until his death.
Journalism and Legacy
In 1780, Gessner founded the Zürcher Zeitung, which eventually became the Neue Zürcher Zeitung. His influence reached across Europe; his writings were translated into French, Italian, and English, with George Robinson publishing New Idylles in London in 1776. After his death in 1788, his legacy was marked by the construction of the Gessner Monument in Platzspitz park and the naming of various streets and a bridge in his honor.
Fast facts
- Born: 1730, Zurich
- Died: 1788, Zurich
- Occupations: writer, poet, printer, illustrator, bookseller, painter, graphic artist, journalist
- Notable publication: Idyllen (1756)
- Political role: Sihlherr of Sihlwald (1781-1788)
- Education/Training: Apprenticeship in Berlin (1749)
- Spouse: Judith Heidegger
- Religion: Reformed
Questions readers ask
What was Salomon Gessner's primary profession?
He maintained a multifaceted career, working simultaneously as a painter, poet, journalist, printer, and government official.
What is the Neue Zürcher Zeitung?
It is a newspaper originally founded and edited by Gessner in 1780 as the Zürcher Zeitung.
Where did Salomon Gessner live?
He lived in his father's house at Münstergasse 9 in Zurich from the age of six until his death.
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