Published on 22 April 2022

Albert von Escher collection

The Albert von Escher collection contains watercolours of uniforms worn by cantonal and federal troops from the 17th to the 19th centuries.

Voluntary cavalry corps in the field with officer und NCO.

Deployed hunter group with sergeant, captain, lieutenant colonel and assistant major.

Infantry in front of a tower. On a hill in the background a castle ruin with chapel is visible.

A group of horsemen in front of a house. One of the horsemen standing on his horse is looking over the wall.

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The Albert von Escher collection comprises around 900 watercolours with military motifs. Albert von Escher (1833-1905) was a captain in the Swiss Armed Forces and became famous as a watercolourist.

The Federal Council acquired Albert von Escher's originals of the uniforms of federal and cantonal troops for the General Staff library. The collection was later transferred to the Library Am Guisanplatz BiG.

All 900 watercolours can be accessed via the Alexandria search portal.

• Albert von Escher collection
• Historical mediatheque (ZEM): Albert von Escher