Perspective View
Barracks of the Swiss Guards
Title on Engraving: Vue Perspective de la grande
Rue de S. Denis en France, et des nouvelles
Casernes des Suisses.
This handcolored copperplate engraving dates
to the late 18th Century (circa 1780 or 1790).
It shows the barracks were the Swiss Guards
who protected the French monarchy were housed.
Perspective Views (vue perspective,
vue d'optique or in German, Guckkastenblättern)
were meant to be seen with a special viewer
to enhance the three dimensional effect. They
were very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries.
They were designed according to strict principles
of linear perspective, with a distant object
placed in the center of the print, as is the
case with this example. Viewed through a special
"machine," the three dimensional effect
was enhanced. The colors of these wonderful
old prints are often bright and naive, as for
children's illustrations. Traveling vendors
-- who went around to fairs offering views of
the images through the Optical Machine for a
few pennies -- often did the handcoloring themselves,
so it tends to be a bit rough compared with
other period engravings. In our view this adds
to the charm of these pieces!
The "100 Swiss"
Guards of the French Kings
The « Compagnie des Cent Hommes de guerre
Suisses de la garde » was founded in 1613
and continued to serve the French monarchy until
the Revolution.
The Swiss Guards were recruited in different
cantons and served for a period of 4 t0 6 years.
They were lodged in "casernes" or
barracks around the Paris region. This image
shows the casernes at St. Denis.
Dimensions: 19.5 X 13.5
More Perspective Views
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