ALBRECHT KAUW THE ELDER (Strasbourg, 1621 – Bern, 1681) - Allegory of Switzerland

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By Templum Fine Art Auctions

Feb 25, 2026

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• Lot Description
  Oil on panel. Dimensions: 96 x 131 cm. Signed in the lower center. This composition is a complex political allegory dedicated to the Swiss Confederation, conceived within the symbolic and moralizing context characteristic of 17th-century Central Europe. In the center of the scene stands a bearded Swiss Landsknecht, sword at his side, holding the red banner with a white cross, emblem of Helvetia Moderna. His figure dominates the composition and embodies the ideal of the Confederate soldier: steadfast and proud, but also marked by the ambivalence of his historical role as a mercenary in the service of various European powers. To the left, an armed man leans on the Habsburg shield, alluding to Austria. To the right, beneath a red curtain, an elegantly dressed female figure—identified as Voluptas—presents a table laden with gold and silverwork, fruit, and wine, a likely allusion to France. Seven bags hang from the Swiss soldier's baldric, symbolizing the nations he served: Austria, France, Denmark, and other European powers. The inscription "Avaritia" underscores the moral nature of the scene, highlighting the tension between patriotism and mercenary zeal. In the background, pivotal episodes from Swiss history are evoked, including the scene of William Tell aiming the apple at his son's head, as well as moments linked to the revolts against imperial authority. Above the scene, the arm of God emerges from the clouds, drawing a bow, accompanied by angels holding scrolls with Latin inscriptions of moral warning, reinforcing the providential and didactic character of the composition. The whole is articulated through a clear theatrical organization, where architecture, landscape, and figures are integrated into a carefully structured allegorical discourse. Kauw demonstrates here his mastery of symbolic language and his ability to combine historical narrative, religious moralizing, and political representation into a single image of remarkable visual power. Albrecht Kauw ...
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