Swiss Costumes, Bernese Alps Hunter and Women of Vaud, Lucerne, Fribourg, 1842

An original antique lithograph with hand coloring, from the Galleria Universale di Tutti i Popoli del Mondo (Venice, Giuseppe Antonelli, 1842). In the upper image a hunter in a black hat, green jacket and yellow breeches climbs down a rocky ledge with a long alpine staff, a gun slung across his back, with pale mountain peaks behind him. To the right a woman in a white cap, blue bodice and yellow striped skirt carries a basket of grapes and vine leaves on her head and holds a round straw hat at her side. In the lower image a young woman with braided hair, a pleated white collar and a striped skirt holds a large straw hat decorated with red and green flowers; beside her a young man in a brown jacket, orange waistcoat and yellow striped breeches leans on a stick. At right a woman in a broad yellow straw hat and a pink striped dress with full white sleeves carries a shallow basket.

The top margin is lettered Tav. 57 at upper left, "SVIZZERA" at center and Tom. IV at upper right. The captions read "Cacciatore dell' Alpi Bernesi" (Hunter of the Bernese Alps), "Donna del paese di Waat" (Woman of the Vaud country), "Donna e Contadino del Canton di Lucerna" (Woman and peasant of the Canton of Lucerne) and "Contᵃ Friburghese" (Peasant woman of Fribourg).

Waat renders the German name Waadt for the canton of Vaud on Lake Geneva, a wine growing region, which fits the grapes the woman carries. The broad straw hats, striped skirts and full sleeves are typical of the regional dress that was shown in Swiss costume prints of the period.

The bright yellows and greens and the mountain setting make this a cheerful plate for a group of Swiss subjects.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.