Produced by noted English engraver Robert Laurie, this stunning depiction of the Old Swiss Confederacy shows the region during a period of significant transformation politically, culturally, and economically. It bears a unique aesthetic that is incomparable and distinguishes these pieces from other productions. Laurie employed the à la poupée method of engraving, which is an intaglio printing method for creating colored prints by applying numerous inks to a single printing place with small pieces of cloth used for each color. This was a common technique from the seventeenth century until the early nineteenth century.
In 1794 Switzerland’s political landscape was an alliance of nobility and patricians of the thirteen cantons. These alliances dated back to 1291’s Federal Charter. In 1798 the Revolutionary French Army invaded the region and imposed a new constitution, and abolished the rule of the cantons. This new regime known as the Helvetic Republic was very unpopular. As war broke out between France and its Rivals, Austrian and Russian forces began an invasion of Switzerland. Swiss forces refused to fight alongside the French. This caused Napoleon to pass the Act of Mediation which restored autonomy to Switzerland and balanced the cantons’ traditions of self-rule with the necessity for a centralized form of government.
The Congress of Vienna in 1815 completely re-established Swiss rule and recognized its neutral stance permanently. The classic style and distinctive method immediately transport the viewer back in time. This is truly an authentic piece of early European cartographical history.
Our museum quality giclee print comes printed with archival ink on premium heavyweight matte paper. Shipped in a sturdy cardboard tube your print will arrive ready to be framed. This eye-catching vintage map reproduction print makes the perfect gift for anyone that loves history and imagery.
