Chateau de Glerolles on Lake Geneva – 18th Century View
Beautiful original 18th Century copperplate engraving entitled “Vue du Chateau de Glerolle sur le Lac de Geneve” from Baron Zurlauben’s Tableaux de la Suisse.
The name of the site comes from an ancient Roman town Glerula which met a dramatic end when it was swept away by the Tauredunum event of 563, a mountain landslide which caused a tsunami style tidal to hit lake Geneva.
The scene from 1780 shows the Chateau in its original state, with its original tower. In the 19th Century, with construction of railway lines near by, the height of the tower had to be reduced because of the vibrations which threatened to topple the structure and damage the entire chateau. Today the Chateau in Rivaz can be visited for tastings of its wines which are produced under the appellation St. Saphorin. Chateau Website
Dimensions: 24 x 18 (platemark size)
Published in different editions between 1770 and 1786
With over 400 beautifully produced engravings, Baron de Zurlauben’s “Tableaux de la Suisse” is one of the most complete and beautiful books on Switzerland ever produced. The project was supported by Jean Benjamin de Laborde (1734 – 1794), a lieutenant general in the French army, and a favorite of Louis XV, and the Swiss General and military historian Baron von Zurlauben. The principal author, Zurlauben (1720 – 1799), had studied history with Jean Rollin in Paris and was a general of the “Schweizergard” (Swiss Guards) who protected French Royalty.
The full title of the work is: Tableaux De La Suisse, Ou Voyage Pittoresque Fait Dans Les Treize Cantons Et Etats Allies Du Corps Helvetique : Représentant les divers Phénomenes que la nature y rassemble, & les beautés dont l’art les enrichis; suivis de la description topographique, physique, historique, morale, politique & littéraire de ce Pays Par M. le Baron De ZurLauben.
