16/41

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228a

Art Historical Context

This delicate work on paper, measuring 310 by 450 millimeters, was created by the French artist Philippe Benoist between 1843 and 1844. Benoist was a skilled lithographer whose practice flourished during the medium’s golden age in France, when artists used the new technique to produce affordable, finely detailed reproductions of architecture and landscapes. The enigmatic title “16/41” suggests the sheet belongs to a numbered series, most likely a set of topographical views intended for a broader public eager to collect images of notable sites. The presence of the collector’s stamp “Lugt 2228a” on the verso confirms that the print once belonged to a distinguished private collection, underscoring its value to nineteenth-century enthusiasts of graphic art. Though modest in scale, the work exemplifies the period’s fascination with precise observation and the democratic possibilities of printmaking, allowing viewers today to appreciate both the technical refinement of early lithography and the cultural impulse to document the changing world in portable form.

About the Artist

Philippe Benoist · 1813–1915

Philippe Benoist (1813–circa 1905) was a prolific French lithographer, painter, and draftsman who became one of the 19th century's most sought-after creators of topographical views and architectural prints. Born in Geneva in 1813 and working primarily in Paris throughout his long career, Benoist specialized in lithographic portfolios documenting European cities and landscapes with meticulous atten...