Charles Meryon (Paris, 1821 - 1868, Charenton-le-Pont)
La Galerie, Notre Dame, Paris, 1853
Etching on laid paper, 27.9 x 17.5 cm (11 x 6 7/8 in.)
This vertical etching depicts the gothic architecture of Notre Dame in Paris. It is on cream colored paper using brown ink. It shows a shadowy room with a balcony that is open to the outdoors. There are long strips of a waning afternoon light coming from our left and dimly illuminating the floor and exterior stone wall on the right. Elongated lancet arch openings are flanked by tall thin columns. On the lower left, there are a few dark crows pecking at something on the floor. Another crow is perched on a ledge, and one is just flying in about to land. In the background, there is a billowing clouded sky, along with various tops of buildings in the far distance. It is signed and dated on the lower left by the artist.
Short Gallery
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.