Raphael Ritz
Born in 1829.
Died in 1894.
Raphaël Ritz (1829–1894) was a Swiss painter whose work focused primarily on landscapes and genre scenes; some of his works are associated with the realist movement or described as being “in the manner of the naturalists”.
His career unfolded in Germany—notably in Düsseldorf—and subsequently chiefly in Switzerland, with his activities concentrated in the canton of Valais and a regular presence in Sion.
In his practice, he travelled throughout Valais and, over the course of his excursions, gathered natural-history specimens, archaeological and ethnographic observations, as well as numerous portfolios of sketches and studies.
His reported output amounts to around 200 paintings, approximately thirty of which are said to be preserved in Valais; the works cited include La Veille de la fête ou Les Deux Âges (c. 1873), Ingénieurs dans les montagnes (1881) and Jeune fille au repos avec une chèvre (before 1894).
Recent bibliography includes, in particular, Walter Ruppen (1980) and an exhibition catalogue by Sabine Leyat, Anton Nanzer and Pascal Ruedin (1999, Musée cantonal des beaux-arts de la Majorie); an archival collection entitled “Raphaël Ritz” is held at the Valais State Archives (reference CH AEV, Raphaël Ritz).
