LE PONT MARIE

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

**LE PONT MARIE** by Gabriel Perelle (French, 1604–1677) captures a quintessential view of 17th-century Paris, on the elegant Pont Marie, a stone arch bridge spanning the Seine River. Completed in the 1660s during the reign of Louis XIV, the bridge exemplified the era's architectural advancements and urban beautification efforts, linking the Île Saint-Louis to the Right Bank. Perelle, a master engraver renowned for his topographic prints, meticulously rendered such landmarks, often collaborating with his sons to produce detailed series of French châteaux, gardens, and cityscapes. As a print from the late 17th century, this work highlights the rising popularity of printmaking in France, a medium that democratized art by allowing precise reproductions of architecture and landscapes. Perelle's style emphasized accuracy and clarity, blending technical virtuosity with a sense of grandeur reflective of the Grand Siècle. Though the specific technique remains under research, his etchings typically featured fine lines that evoked the bustling life along the Seine. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection—purchased by the Advisory Council—this piece offers visitors a window into Old Paris, bridging European artistic traditions with American curatorial interests. It invites reflection on how prints preserved vanishing urban vistas for future generations. (198 words)