Renewing a Storied Masterpiece

Zuber’s scenic wallpaper “Les Vues de Suisse” (Views of Switzerland) has graced the grand entry hall and arching staircase of the Main House at Greenwood since the 1950s, when Peter and Adelaide Blanchard selected the mural to enrich the character of their new home. Offering an exquisitely colored and meticulously detailed 360-degree vision of the Swiss Alps, “Les Vues de Suisse” was Zuber’s first panorama, created in 1804. Artist Pierre Mongin used 1,024 hand-carved wood blocks and 150 distinct colors to first bring this majestic landscape to life, a process which required 20 engravers working over several years.

Though the mural’s history is as rich as its imagery, time inevitably left its mark on this captivating scene. Thanks to the generous support of an interested donor, a four-week restoration by Scenic Wallpaper was completed this month, returning the mural to its original brilliance and ensuring its beauty endures for generations to come. The mural can be viewed beginning in 2026, during one of our Historic House Tours.

Initially, our entire mural needed to be cleaned and repaired.

In order to restore the color of the blue sky, slight airbrushing was then required.

Finally, touchups to various sections were applied to bring the wallpaper back to its original color and vibrance.

A beautiful restored Swiss scene on the mural.

The restored mural in the grand hall.