Banks of the Seine
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1931-71-65
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Charles Nicolas Ransonnette (3–1877) was a French artist whose *Banks of the Seine* from the later years of his career, between1850 and 187. The Seine has long served as a central motif in French art, embodying both the everyday rhythms of Parisian life and the city's enduring scenic beauty. As a drawing, the work reflects the medium's capacity for intimate observation and atmospheric detail, allowing the artist to record the river's banks, light, and surrounding architecture with immediacy. Such studies often captured the character of a place at a specific moment, offering viewers a personal...