Marquard Wocher

Marquard Wocher was born on 7 September 1760 in the village Mimmenhausen near Salem, Germany as the son of the painter Tiberius Wocher.[1] His father settled to Bern, Marquard followed him soon[1] and was trained as a painter by him. For a short while he was employed at the workshop of the painter Johann Ludwig Aeberli, who introduced him to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in 1779.[1] In 1782 he eventually installed himself in Basel.[1][2]

He created the seals for the Helvetic Republic in 1798.[3] Initially mainly known for his portraits and miniatures, Wocher began to release sketches of the city of Thun in 1804.[4] In 1809 he built a tower in which he began painting the panorama.[5] It had 14 sides, had a height of about 19.5 meters and a diameter of 13.5.[5] Between 1809 and 1814 he painted the panorama on a canvas of 7.40 meters height and about 38 meters breadth.[5][6] The painting depicts the city of Thun, the mountain range of Stockhorn, further the Niesen, Blüemlisalp, Jungfrau and a part of Lake Thun.[7] In 1814 Wocher announced the inauguration of the panorama and invited the public.[8] The panorama was visited by guets from all countries in Europe, but also countries from America.[9] Prominent visitors were Empress Marie Louise or the Grand Duke Michael of Russia.[9] But the maintenance of the panorama was expensive and Wocher was also not able to sell it until he died.[5]

Since 1961 the Panorama is accessible again in the Schadau-Park at the shores of Lake Thun.[2]

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  Mary Magdalene penitent after Guido Reni by Marquard Wocher
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  Our Lady of sorrows after Carlo Dolci by Marquard Wocher
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  Portrait of Joanna after Raphael by Marquard Wocher
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  Seal of the Helvetic Republic

Marquard Wocher married Anna Büchel in 1800, who was the widow of the architect Johann Ulrich Büchel.[4] He was also present at the Unspunnenfestival in 1808, which was organized by his student Franz Niklaus König.[1]