A series of moralistic plates referencing the turmoil in Europe caused by the French Revolutionary Wars. The series describes and illustrates the violent disruption of the quiet country life of an elderly shepherd and his young grandson. In the first plate they are seen outside their alpine cabin with the description below, "Early in the morning the herds go to feed: the aged highlander and his lively grandson stand before the Cottage: the blessings that are spread around on hills and dales, tune his soul to feelings of thankfulness and he prays.” In the second plate, the revolution, “has penetrated into the peaceful vales of Unterwalden ...," the man and his grandson see a "Tree of Liberty" being planted in their town and flee in fear of the revolutionary atmosphere. In the third plate the cabin is in flames as "scenes of calamity overwhelm the poor Country." The young boy protects his grandfather from a member of the revolutionary mob who is holding a flaming torch. In the fourth plate, titled "Give us this day our Daily Bread!", the pair walk in the countryside, destitute. In the fifth plate, the pair are shown praying in "the ruins of the Chapel at Stantz-stad [Stansstad]." In the penultimate plate, "And Lead us Not into Temptation!," the grandfather and child encounter the man who set fire to their cabin, who is also now destitute and has lost one of his legs; the young boy is keen to take revenge but his grandfather stops him. The final plate, " Deliver us from Evil!, the Highlander "beholds the most honest and respectable men torn from their families, Affected by these atrocities, he cries to Heaven."
Description:
Title from publisher's catalogue entry. and This set of prints were advertised in the December 1817 newspaper as "A series of Engravings in Seven Parts, representing the sufferings of a Swiss Shepherd during the revolution of that country, and intended as illustrations of the Lord’s Prayer. Printed on Royal Quarto, price 10s. 6d". In Ackermann’s own The Repository of Arts, Literature, Fashions (Vol. IV, December 1st, 1817), they are listed in the catalogue under "Intelligence, Literary, Scientific" prints and are described as "Engravings of an historical fact of a Swiss Shepherd during the revolution of that country..." (page 367).
Publisher:
Published Jany. 1, 1818, at R. Ackermann's, 101, Strand, London
Subject (Geographic):
Switzerland
Subject (Topic):
History, Shepherds, Military occupations, and Moral aspects of war
