Normandie-Bretagne - travling ad for Western Railways, after Paul Berthon)

Christophe Adrien (Count) Regley de Koenigsegg

A miniature watercolor copy of the travel poster by Paul Berthon (French: 1872 - 1910), created for Western Railways (Chemins de fer de l'Ouest). Berthon was considered one of France's leading Art Nouveau graphic artists, and while he was sought after for his lithographic work by many companies, the majority of his poster work was simply meant to be stand-alone imagery available to the public. His work is found on the cover of Volume II of Les Maîtres de l'Affiche, the periodical sold by subscription from 1895 to 1900, highlighting 256 works by leading Parisian Belle Epoque graphic artists. Published by Jules Chéret, the publications have remained a popular and valuable account of the first golden age of posters.

Koenigsegg expertly captures the fine details in Berthon's vingetted display of the sights of the Normandie-Bretagne train route, from pastureland to the Cathedrale de Rouen to the sea. In the right panel is a piper in historic Breton costume; in the center panel is a beach scene with children playing in the sand, the commanding Mont-Saint-Michel castle island in the background.