Militant Switzerland vs. Switzerland, Island of Peace: Two Monuments, Two Conceptions

Two monumental murals depict Switzerland during the First World War: the votive painting in the Lower Ranft Chapel in Flüeli-Ranft by Robert Durrer (1867-1934), Albert Hinter (1876- 1957) and Hans von Matt (1899-1985) from 1920-21, and the cycle of Charles L’Eplattenier (1874-1946) in the Knights’ Hall of the Co- lombier Castle from 1915-19, depicting the mobilization of Swiss soldiers in 1914.1 They report in rich details how differently artists in that country saw the war of 1914-18. Both were put into architectural monuments built around 1500.2 However, they differ greatly in their form, fulfilling a completely different function at the time of their execution.
Swiss American Historical Society Review, 56 (1)