As a prelude to the Basel city views, this circular painting presents a unique view of the city. At a time when there were no airplanes or drones, the silk ribbon manufacturer Lukas Sarasin (1730-1802) designed this panoramic picture. From the roof of his house on Rheinsprung, the magnificent "Blue House", he was able to enjoy this view from his specially built "chimney lookout" and show it to guests. This circumpolar horizontal panorama is one of the first of its kind in the 18th century and reflects Sarasin's passion for optical phenomena. After his death in 1802, the Reichensteinerhof became the property of Peter Vischer-Sarasin (1751-1823), who - according to his diary - took prominent guests such as Emperor Franz I of Austria, who was staying with him, up to the lookout to enjoy the view during the passage of the Allied army in 1813.