International Art Treasures Web Magazine

August 2005  

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Luzern, Switzerland

Title: The Mill Bridge Luzern's second wooden bridge,
built ca. 1408, with its own series of 17th century paintings
featuring the Dance of Death on 65 panels by Caspar Meglinger
Image Courtesy: Luzern Tourism

Overlooking the majestic lake from which the city takes its name, Luzern is a little bit of heaven. Rustic and calm. A perfect place to relax, enjoy some art and anchor to visit nearby Zurich and Berne.

Two covered bridges are found in the city. The Chapel Bridge dates from the 14th Century, however a fire destroyed much of the structure in 1993 and it was rebuilt. The Mill Bridge, 1408, is home to 65 panels by Caspar Meglinger depicting The Dance of Death.

Sammlung Rosengart

Title: Angela Rosengart in front of Paul Klee’s drawing «X-chen» (little X) at the Museum Rosengart Collection
Photographer: John Blanchette
Image ©: IATWM
Courtesy: Rosengart Collection, Lucerne / Collection Rosengart, Lucerne / Sammlung Rosengart, Luzern

Angela Rosengart created the Rosengart Collection from the artwork she and her father Siegfried, art dealers both, had amassed over the years. The Sammlung Rosengart is one of the world's finest art galleries and is reviewed here.

Hans Erni Museum

Picasso Museum

Title: Luzern's proud landmark, the Water Tower with
Mount Rigi, the «Queen of the Mountains».
Photographer: Rigi Bahnen
Image Courtesy: Luzern Tourism

Consisting of portraits of the artist at work is a way to look at the man behind the art. Picasso at home, work and meeting admirers, Gary Cooper for one, are explored through black and white photographs.  Spread over three floors comprised of 200 photos on display all taken by David Douglas Duncan. Included are some artwork notably the 5 portraits of Angela Rosengart with her classical features that intrigued Picasso. Their admiration was mutual, he encouraged her to select artworks to purchase for herself that are on view at the Sammlung Rosengart.

Bourbaki Panorama

Title: The snow-covered towers Männliturm and Luginsland
on the Musegg Wall in Luzern
Image Courtesy: Luzern Tourism

The artist, Edouard Castes, as a Red Cross volunteer bore witness to the French Army escaping into Switzerland. The 360° mural he created was painted from his memory, depicting the first humanitarian effort undertaken by the Red Cross, which relied heavily upon the goodwill of the inhabitants of nearby Swiss villages. The townspeople opened their hearts and homes to the influx of defeated soldiers. War is not celebrated as victory in this work as it demonstrates the despair following defeat. The Swiss were rescuers of the French soldiers from the German victors and the French officers that chose to avail themselves of transport while oblivious to the plight of the starving bedraggled soldiers.

The Bourbaki Army were defeated in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871 and 90,000 asked for asylum which was granted by the Swiss. The panorama is the story of kindness to the defeated, starving, injured and exhausted soldiers. The background is the mural. The foreground was added later and includes images of the artist sketching the scene before him, the French surrendering their arms and soldiers lighting a fire, keeping in tandem with the painting behind them.

The mural is accompanied by an audio presentation in languages including English. Directly below the panorama is a museum that looks at the history of panorama as art.

Lowendenkmal

Title: Löwendenkmal / The Dying Lion of Luzern Monument to Swiss Soldiers
Image Courtesy: Luzern Tourism

Mark Twain took one look at the monument dedicated to the brave Swiss soldiers who lost their lives defending King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution in 1792 and declared the reclining lion to be, "the saddest and most moving piece of rock in the world." The American writer's observation is correct. The lion is profoundly sad as it mourns the loss of Swiss soldiers while one paw protects their gear.

Richard Wagner Museum

Title: Richard Wagner Museum,
the former residence of the great composer
Image Courtesy: Luzern Tourism

The Composer Richard Wagner resided in the Luzern home, that is now a museum, for 6 years and was undoubtedly inspired by the magnificent Alps. The first floor is devoted to the composer, the second floor is home to Heinrich Schmacher's collection of musical instruments, dating from the 17th-19th Centuries.

One of the important antiquities on view is the Erard Grand Piano upon which Wagner completed "Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg." The home is located in Tribschen and it was here that his long friendship with the philosopher Nietzsche began. Kings, philosophers and fellow composers were guests of Wagner.

Jesuit Church

Title: The magnificent Jesuit Church,
the first large Baroque church built in Switzerland,
is right beside the River Reuss.
Image Courtesy: Luzern Tourism

The Jesuit Church was built during 1677-1699 and is the oldest Baroque Church in Switzerland. Inside the church is a chapel dedicated to the patron saint of Luzern, Brother Klaus. It is located on the left bank of the Reuss River.

Title: Pilatus Alphorn players on
Luzern's local mountain, Mount Pilatus
Image Courtesy: Luzern Tourism

Kunst Museum

Title: Luzern Culture and Convention Center
with Luzern Hall and the Art Museum
Architect: Jean Nouvel
Image Courtesy: Luzern Tourism

Located directly below the roof of the Jean Nouvel designed Luzern Culture and Congress Center, the Museum of Art Luzern has an exhibition entitled Ergriffenheit, featuring works from its permanent collection from Hodler to Henning. Landscape, the body and emotion are the three key themes to this exhibit that runs through November 25, 2005.