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- Lucerne - Théodore Müller after Michel Charles Fichot, 1862/1863 MAGNIFICENT VIEW OF LUCERNE "Vue générale de Lucerne. Vue prise du Gutsch à l’Ouest de la Ville. " Lithograph made by Théodore Müller after the design by Michel Charles Fichot and printed by Lemercier in Paris ca. 1862/1863. With beautiful original hand colouring. Size (excl. text): 38,2 × 58,6 cm. From the vantage of Lucerne’s Gütsch hill, this panoramic 19th-century print invites you to explore a city at the crossroads of old and new. French artist Michel Charles Fichot, working with Swiss lithographer Théodore Müller, created this view in a time when Lucerne was transforming from a walled medieval town into a modern travel and tourist hub. The scene blends centuries-old landmarks with cutting-edge innovations of the era, reflecting a city in dynamic change. In the middle, the Kapellbrücke and its sturdy Wasserturm (water tower) stretch across the River Reuss. This 14th-century covered wooden bridge – today the symbol of Lucerne – once formed part of the town’s fortifications. Just beyond, on the river’s left bank, stands the graceful Jesuit Church with its twin onion-domed towers. Built in 1666–77 as Switzerland’s first Baroque church, it adds an elegant Baroque flourish to the skyline. Rising behind the rooftops is the long Musegg Wall with its nine watchtowers, forming a striking crown around Lucerne’s Old Town. These medieval ramparts, largely intact, remind us of the city’s fortified past. Meanwhile, along the lakefront, you can spot signs of Lucerne’s new railway age. The city’s first train station (opened in 1856) sat by the water’s edge, where steam trains and lake steamers met. The train in this lithograph, in the front right, symbolizes the progress that connected Lucerne to Europe’s growing rail network. With the arrival of the railroad, travel times plummeted and visitor numbers soared. By the late 19th century, Lucerne had blossomed into one of Switzerland’s first grand tourist resorts. Luxury hotels sprang up, and illustrious visitors (including Queen Victoria in 1868) came to savor the views. Those natural views are the final wonder of Fichot’s panorama. The placid blue expanse of Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) stretches into the distance, cradled by mountains. To the left, the rugged profile of Mount Pilatus looms – its peak often wreathed in legend and cloud. On the right horizon stands Mount Rigi, the “Queen of the Mountains,” which soon would host Europe’s first mountain railway in 1871. Together, these alpine giants frame the city’s skyline, just as they framed the dreams of Victorian-era travelers. In Fichot’s time, such scenery – a sparkling lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks – was exactly what drew tourists to Lucerne. This lithograph brilliantly captures that allure, pairing historic charm with breathtaking landscape. Visitors gazing at this print today can imagine themselves on Gütsch hill over 150 years ago, taking in the timeless beauty of Lucerne. Price: Euro 1.650,- EUR 1650.00 [Appr.: US$ 1898.12 | £UK 1410.5 | JP¥ 275257] Book number 27338is offered by:
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