Thun Panorama, Circular panoramic painting in Schadau Castle, Switzerland
Thun Panorama is a large circular painting from the early 1800s displayed inside Schadau Castle. It depicts the town of Thun, the surrounding lake and mountains with carefully rendered architectural and natural details.
The painting was created between 1809 and 1814 by artist Marquard Wocher and marked the first panorama in Switzerland. It stands among the oldest surviving circular paintings in existence.
The painting captures how Thun and its surroundings looked in the early 1800s, showing the town square, buildings, and the lake as people experienced them daily. Visitors can see the mountains that dominated the horizon of local residents at that time.
The best way to experience this is to walk around the circular room and view the painting from different distances and angles. Benches are placed in the center of the chamber so you can sit and study the details from multiple viewpoints.
The artist painted himself into the scene, appearing as a figure walking across Thun's town square. This hidden self-portrait is a rare instance of personal marking within such a large-scale work.
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