The Museum's staircase. A total work of art
The décor of the stairwell at the Museum of Art and History is a masterpiece of total art that is unique in Switzerland. Created by Neuchâtel painter Léo-Paul Robert, the decorative ensemble was mainly produced between 1886, when the three large paintings were commissioned, and 1908, when the large stained-glass window was installed on the museum's façade.
Robert's monumental canvases represent the three regions of the canton: Neuchâtel, or intellectual and moral life; The Val-de-Ruz, or rustic life; and La Chaux-de-Fonds, or industrial life. They convey a strong religious message, which is amplified by the ornamentation of the walls and dome, created in collaboration with the English decorative artist Clement Heaton. In a celebration of the divine through the representation of plants and celestial beings, this setting was created using innovative techniques developed especially for this project, such as embossed wallpaper and cloisonné.
The richly decorated staircase in the Neuchâtel Museum of Art and History is a total work of art that always exerts a special fascination. But what is the history behind it? Who were the visionary artists that created this extraordinary structure? And what can we learn from each of the details in its monumental paintings and unique architecture? For answers to these questions, visitors can turn to the interactive terminal – a generous gift from ARTHIS, the Association of Friends of the Museum of Art and History
To take full advantage of the decorative art on its extraordinary staircase, the Neuchâtel Museum of Art and History (MahN) decided to install a multimedia terminal featuring new methods of visualisation. The Museum is deploying new technologies to meet educational as well as scientific challenges: details that were almost invisible to the naked eye can now be examined, and visitors are free to choose the information that matches their particular interests.
A greatly enhanced visitor experience
The interactive touchscreen has been set up in the lobby on the Museum's first floor, the ideal spot for "total immersion". Here, visitors can explore the fine details of the three monumental paintings by Léo-Paul Robert (1851-1923): with apocalyptic symbolism, they depict the canton of Neuchâtel's main regions and their specific activities. At Neuchâtel: intellectual life, the glory of God and an ambience of the Last Judgement. At Val-de-Ruz: country life, the regeneration of nature spoiled by human activities, together with Peace and the Kingdom of God. And at La Chaux-de-Fonds: industrial life, resolution of the social conflict, and benevolence towards the human race in a pre-apocalyptic era. Visitors can also use this new multi-media tool to explore the entire architectural decoration of the staircase at first hand – including the stained-glass window, cloisonné work and vaulted ceiling studded with angels and stars, created by the British artist Clement Heaton (1861-1940) in the spirit of Art Nouveau. Another highlight of the presentation is the contemporary perspective of this remarkable ensemble, seen through the lens of Neuchâtel photographer Yann Mingard (*1973).
Generous financial support from ARTHIS
A project of this sort would have been impossible without the generous financial support of the Association of Friends of the Museum of Art and History (ARTHIS). For over 20 years, ARTHIS has staged events and offered special benefits to anyone interested in the world of the arts, history, the applied arts and numismatics.