This gorgeous engraving of the Great St. Bernard Lake appeared in Baron de Zurlauben's Tableaux Topographiques, Pittoresques, Physiques, Historiques, Moralaux, Politiques, Litteraires, de la Suisse (1780-88). After a career as a mercenary and an adviser, interpreter, and secretary for Louis XV, Zurlauben (1720-99) delved into research on the history of Switzerland, producing multiple volumes on its military. He followed that project with the five-volume Tableaux Topographiques, a pictorial history of Switzerland illustrated with more than 400 engravings. The lake, which straddles the Swiss-Italian border, is shown from the south, with the Great St. Bernard Hospice on the opposite shore. The famous hospice and hostel dates back to the 9th century and is the origin of the dog breed of the same name. In the late 17th century, the dog breed was created via cross-breeding, with the dogs serving as hospice guards and rescue animals for travelers lost in the mountains. A couple of travelers and horses wander a road along the edge of the lake. Birds are cleverly used to identify Le Drossa and Le Pain de Sucre, and the ruins of the Temple of Jupiter, built in 50 AD, are located as well. Drawn by Alexandre-Charles Besson and engraved by Nee.

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Condition: A

A fine impression on a bright sheet with short tears in the bottom left corner of the sheet that have been closed on verso with archival tape.