Histoire naturelle, vue du Glacier de la Montagne Glacée de Grindelwald, dans le Canton de Bern

Title

Histoire naturelle, vue du Glacier de la Montagne Glacée de Grindelwald, dans le Canton de Bern

Description

View of the Grindelwald Glace

ca. 1790

Artist

Benard (1734-1777)

Robert Bénard (1734 in Paris – 1777) was an 18th-century French engraver. Specialized in the technique of engraving, Robert Bénard is mainly famous for having supplied a significant amount of plates (at least 1,800) to the Encyclopédie by Diderot & d'Alembert from 1751. Later, publisher Charles-Joseph Panckoucke reused many of his productions to illustrate the works of his catalog.

Historical Description

The city is the de facto capital of Switzerland. The medieval city is a foundation of the ruling dynasty of Zähringen, which rose to power in Upper Burgundy in the 12th century. According to 14th century historiography (Cronica de Berno, 1309), Bern was founded in 1191 by Berthold V, Duke of Zähringen. In 1218, after Berthold died without heirs, Bern was elevated to the status of a free imperial city by the Golden Handfeste of the Roman Emperor Frederick II. In 1353 Bern joined the Swiss Confederation and became one of the eight cantons of the founding period from 1353 to 1481. Bern conquered Aargau in 1415 and Vaud in 1536, as well as other smaller territories, becoming the largest city-state north of the Alps. The city spread west of the peninsula formed by the Aare River.