L'ancien Louvre

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 2760

Art Historical Context

**L'ancien Louvre** (1865–1866) is a captivating etching by Charles Mery, a master of 19th-century French print renowned for his meticulous views of Paris. Measuring 164 × 267 mm, this work captures the historic facade of the old Louvre Palace, a symbol of royal grandeur from the Renaissance era. Meryon, often called the "Rembrandt of Paris," belonged to the Romantic etching revival, blending precise architectural detail with atmospheric depth to evoke the city's fading past. Created amid Baron Haussmann's sweeping urban renovations under Napoleon III, the print preserves the "ancien Louvre" just as modernization threatened its original character. Etching allowed Meryon to achieve extraordinary finesse—fine lines and rich tonal contrasts that mimic the play of light on stone, making his works feel almost painterly. This technique elevated printmaking from mere reproduction to high art, influencing later Impressionists. Bearing the collector's mark Lugt 2760, this piece highlights Meryon's enduring legacy in documenting Paris's transformation. Visitors, imagine strolling the Seine and glimpsing this timeless treasure— a poignant reminder of how art safeguards history.

About the Artist

Charles Meryon · 1821–1868

Charles Meryon, born on November 23, 1821, in Paris, was the illegitimate son of English physician Dr. Charles Lewis Meryon and dancer Pierre-Narcisse Chaspoux (stage name Narcisse Gentil) at the Paris Opéra. His half-sister Fanny, from his mother's prior relationship with Viscount Lowther, remained in contact after their mother's death in 1838. Raised partly outside Paris before attending Pension...