MECHEL (Chrétien de). Vue perspective de la Vallée de Chamouni, du Mont-Blanc et des Montagnes adjacentes dans le Haut Faucigny en Savoie, où l'on a indiqué la route qu'a tenue au mois d'Août 1787 Mr. le Professeur de Saussure. Basel, Chrétien de Mechel, 1790. Large watercolour line engraving, 42.5 x 60.5 cm, framed. Magnificent engraved and finely hand-coloured view after H. B. de Saussure, the famous Swiss geologist, engraved by Chrétien de Mechel in Basle. Title (2 lines) and explanations (5 lines on 2 columns) in lower margin. A fine proof. Chrétien de Mechel (Basel 1737 - Berlin 1817) was a Swiss engraver and publisher. He first settled in Paris in 1757, where he opened his own workshop in 1760. He moved his workshop to Basel in 1765, where he remained until 1806, when he moved to Berlin. He taught applied drawing at the University of Basel from 1770 to 1806 and was a member of the Basel Grand Council. He is known in France for producing the large watercolour engravings depicting Saussure's ascent of Mont Blanc.