Antique 19th Century Norwegian Artists Oil Painting Pastoral Windmill Shepherd ^Sale

Attributed to Morten Müller (1828-1911) and Olaf Christopher Dahl (1842-1895), signed lower right, this extraordinary antique oil painting captures the timeless beauty of 19th century Norwegian pastoral landscape. This exceptional collaborative masterpiece, painted circa 1870-1880 during the golden age of Norwegian landscape art, depicts an enchanting countryside scene where a young shepherd boy guides his cattle to a tranquil watering hole. The composition unfolds like a gentle poem of rural life, with lush vegetation embracing rolling hills while an ancient windmill stands majestically on the distant hillside, creating striking focal point and masterful perspective. Rich oil painting technique reveals the artists' shared vision of Norway's serene countryside, where peaceful pastoral tranquility below contrasts dramatically with gathering storm clouds above. This romantic Norwegian landscape tradition showcases nuanced brushwork and atmospheric effects that exemplify the peak of Scandinavian art movement. Both renowned Norwegian artists are prominently featured in National Museum Oslo permanent collection, confirming their significant contribution to Nordic artistic heritage. This rare antique oil painting represents sublime testament to 19th century collaborative artistry, where two masters united their talents to create lasting vision of Norway's natural beauty.
Size app.: 46 x 69 cm (roughly 18.1 x 27.2 in), with frame 60 x 84 cm cm (roughly 23.6 x 33.1 in). Good condition with wear, tiny losses to paint in minor areas and craquelure. So it needs minor care and conservation. Please study good resolution images for overall cosmetic condition. In person actual painting may appear darker or brighter than in our pictures, strictly depending on sufficient light in your environment. Weight of app. 4.4 kg is going to measure some 6 kg volume weight packed for shipment.
Morten Müller began his art studies with Adolph Tidemand and Hans Gude in Düsseldorf, Germany, from 1847 to 1848. From 1850 he was again a student at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, with Johann Wilhelm Schirmer as a teacher. From 1850 to 1851, Müller painted with the Swedish landscape painter Marcus Larson in Stockholm. From 1866 to 1873, Morten Müller lived in Oslo, where he taught together with Knud Bergslien, first at the art school operated by Johan Fredrik Eckersberg. Later he continued working with Knud Bergslien at the Bergslien school of Art. In 1875, Müller returned to Düsseldorf, where he lived the rest of his life. He is associated with the Düsseldorf school of painting. Among his landscape motifs are fjords and pine forests. He is represented with several works in the National Gallery of Norway. In 1875, Morten Müller was appointed as a painter to the Swedish Royal Court. He was knighted into the Order of Vasa in 1869 and in 1874 became an honorary member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts in Stockholm. He was made a Knight of the Order of St. Olav during 1882 and became a commander of the 2nd Class of 1895.
Dahl's paintings are finely brushed and rich in detail. He painted landscapes, especially from Western Norway. D's paintings were raffled off in Bergen's Art Association between 1866 and 1889. He also took part in exhibitions: Nordic Industrial and Art Department, Copenhagen in 1872, Nordic Art Exhibition in 1885, The State's Annual Art Exhibition, Bergen in 1886. His work is represented in several museums and private collections: The National Gallery, Trøndelag Art Gallery, Bergen Picture Gallery, Stavanger Permanent Gallery.