Simplon: The Grand Gateway South

“Simplon: The Grand Gateway South”
Chemins de fer Paris–Lyon–Méditerranée
Art by F. Hugo d’Alesi, circa early 20th century
Printed at Ateliers Hugo d’Alesi, 5 Passage Stanislas, Paris
Reproduction interdite

Step into the golden age of travel with this breathtaking panoramic masterpiece by F. Hugo d’Alesi, the Transylvanian-born, French-adopted virtuoso of railway romanticism. Commissioned by the Chemins de fer Paris–Lyon–Méditerranée—one of the crown jewels of Europe’s grand railway empires—this poster invites the discerning viewer on a visual voyage through some of the most storied landscapes of the continent.

Rendered with d’Alesi’s characteristic fusion of cartographic precision and artistic rapture, the poster depicts the Simplon route, one of the most important transalpine connections of the era. The eye begins at Lac Léman, winding its way past snowy Alpine passes, through the Simplon Tunnel (a triumph of engineering), down into the sun-drenched vistas of northern Italy—past Milan’s Gothic spires and onward to the glimmering canals of Venice.

Floral embellishments—roses in bloom and sprigs of lemon—are not idle decoration. They are tokens of the journey itself: the floral romance of Italy meeting the noble restraint of Swiss topography. Every botanical curl and architectural feature seems lovingly placed, as though curated for an idealised European grand tour.

This piece is for the aesthete, the historian, the voyager in spirit. It belongs in libraries of imagination and salons of cultivated conversation. Whether you are a collector of travel ephemera or curating a space that honours the age of elegance, d’Alesi’s vision is a window onto the dreams of a continent.

Archival Reproduction Details
Printed on premium heavyweight semi-gloss paper, 200 gsm with a luxurious silk finish. Humidity and scratch resistant.
Proudly made in the United Kingdom using archival inks for lasting clarity and vibrancy.

Ideal For:
Collectors of vintage European travel posters, aficionados of Belle Époque design, rail historians, interior designers evoking continental sophistication, and admirers of masterful map artistry.