Nestled on the outflow of the river Reuss, where it spills into the Lake of Lucerne, lies the city of Lucerne, Switzerland. The majestic, snow covered Swiss Alps act as an impressive backdrop for the city. The city’s history dates to 750 A.D. Much of its medieval architecture still stands. To cross the river, one can walk across the covered Spreuer Bridge. Built in the 13th century, it was one of three pedestrian bridges built in Lucern across the river Reuss.
In 1616, city council members commissioned painter Kaspar Meglinger to begin work on a project to add some art to the interior of the bridge. It was a project that would feature 67 separate paintings in the rafters of the Spreuer Bridge.
Featured postcard, most likely from the early 20th century. The scene is of the Spreuer Bridge in Lucern. There is nothing on the back of the postcard, besides “Spreuerbrücke” — Spreuer Bridge in German. It was purchased at a vintage store in Joplin, Missouri in 2005.
The project was completed in 1637. Members of high society, donors, and members of the city council viewed the artwork. Leisurely they walked the bridge observing Kaspar’s work. Brilliant, bright colors of red, orange, and yellow depicted carefully thought out scenes. Scenes that reminded them of death. Scenes that forced them to contemplate their own mortality. Scenes that reminded them that death was everywhere and always present.
If commissioned today, the scenes featured would undoubtedly be romantic and beautiful. Death wouldn’t have such a stranglehold on the scenes in the rafters.
When Kaspar Meglinger went to work on his vision for the bridge, he created a series of artworks in the allegoric style of Danse Macabre, or Dance of Death.
Each work depicted a scene of everyday human life, but there, always lurking nearby was death. A skeletal guide or reaper was never far from view — and that was the whole point of the genre Danse Macabre. Each work intentionally reminding the viewer of the fragility of life. Each work created to invoke thoughts of mortality. One couldn’t walk far on the bridge without understanding we’re all taking that last dance to the grave one day. No one, no matter their lot in life, or where they may be in the world, is safe from the ever present dance of death.
Today 45 of Kasper Meglinger’s original 67 works still exist within the bridge. Demonstrating that sometimes with the passing of time, even art faces a dance with death.
One day in the early 20th century an unknown tourist visited Lucerne on vacation. They approached the Spreuer Bridge. Pausing only for a moment, the unknown tourist stepped onto its wooden planks. Immediately they gazed into the rafters and started walking. One after the other scenes of everyday life and death peered back. Centuries had passed since the members of high society, donors, and city council members first walked the bridge. Long ago death had snatched each by the hand and danced with them to their graves. The unknown tourist took it all in. The skeletons, the reapers, all guiding kings, beggars, and clergy to their graves. The scenes of macabre, the dances of death still conveyed with clarity. Meglinger’s vision still influencing souls centuries later.
The unknown tourist left the bridge aware of their mortality.
Later, they stopped at a shop and purchased a postcard featuring the bridge. Its unique artwork of death on full display. The postcard was never sent to a friend or loved one. The unknown tourist saved it as a souvenir instead. As a reminder of that day they once walked across an old bridge in Lucerne. Still yet, as a reminder that the dance of death is always lurking nearby.
What it looks like today. Photo of the Dance of Death scene featured in the forefront of the postcard.