Benno Schubiger

Benno Schubiger

Benno Schubiger is a freelance art historian and museologist in Basel and mainly publishes material relating to the Baroque period and historicism.

Vandalism as a political tool in the Helvetic period

Benno Schubiger 22.12.2023 The French invasion 225 years ago not only brought about major political upheaval in Switzerland, but also death and destruction. Vestiges of acts of vandalism to cultural property can still be seen today.
Following the French invasion and Helvetic revolution, rebels in the canton of Basel set fire to medieval castles in which the bailiffs resided. Pictured is the burning Farnsburg Castle near Ormalingen in the canton of Basel-Landschaft in an undated gouache by J. J. Ketterlin (detail).