Vue du château de Chillon

In his later years, Courbet became increasingly involved in the political turmoil developing in France. He was named chairman of the French Arts Commission and played a greater political role in the French Government. At the fall of the Commune-originally the elective central committee of the French National Guard- Courbet was charged with allowing the destruction of several major works of art and was held responsible for the cost of their reconstruction. Shortly thereafter, Courbet fled to Switzerland to live in exile at La Tour-de-Peilz, a lakeside town a few miles from the Château de Chillon. There, Courbet painted the picturesque view of Chillon, finding solace in its peaceful exterior. The 13th Century Château de Chillon is viewed as the best example of a noble fortress of the Middle Ages. It has since become a symbol of the strength and sturdiness of Switzerland, whose angles and shapes are in accord with perfect harmony. Chillon is a unique structure in that one side is a majestical fort facing the ancient road to Italy, and the other a palatial residence facing the Lake of Geneva. The visible portions of the castle include two dozen buildings set around three courtyards, all merged together in a typical medieval style. Its legendary dungeons were carved directly from the rock that supports the castle foundations. In the 19th Century the Château became popular for visitors after several painters and poets were drawn to its beauty. François Bonivard, in particular, immortalized by Lord Byron in his famous poem, The Prisoner of Chillon, and was an official at St. Victor's priory in Geneva. He spoke out in favor of the Reformation and was shackled to a stone pillar by the Duke of Savoy from 1530 until the Bernese conquest of Vaud in 1536. In these few lines Byron speaks of Bonivard's stay in a magical place overcome with horrific circumstances: Chillon! thy prison is a holy place and thy sad floor an altar, for 'twas trod, until his very steps have left a trace worn as if thy cold pavement were a sod, by Bonivard! May none those marks efface! For they appeal from tyranny to God.

Jean-Jacques Fernier has confirmed the authenticity of this work and will include it in his forthcoming Courbet catalogue raisonné.