Place de la Concorde no. III

Art Historical Context

Frank Edwin Scott’s “Place de la Concorde no. III” invites viewers into one of Paris’s most iconic civic spaces. The painting captures the bustling energy of the grand square, with its distinctive column—likely the Luxor Obelisk—and groups of figures moving through the open plaza. As a work in the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection, it reflects the enduring fascination American artists have held for the monumental public architecture and lively street life of the French capital. The Place de la Concorde itself carries deep historical weight, having served as the site of the guillotine during the French Revolution evolving into a symbol of civic harmony and urban elegance. Scott’s composition emphasizes both the scale of the surrounding monuments and the human presence within them, offering a quiet meditation on how public spaces shape daily experience. This artwork entered the museum through a generous gift from Laura Dreyfus Barney and Natalie Clifford Barney, given in memory of their mother, Alice Pike Barney. Its presence in the Smithsonian collection highlights the museum’s commitment to preserving American interpretations of European landmarks and the cultural exchanges that have long inspired artists across the Atlantic.