The Cathedral (La cathedrale)

1886

James Ensor

Associated Names
James Ensor

Artist, Belgian, 1860 - 1949

The image shows a grand cathedral, viewed from a slightly elevated, frontal angle. The towering structure is depicted with intricate Gothic architectural details. The horizon cuts through the upper part of the cathedral, emphasizing its height against the sky. Additional spires and rooftops are visible in the background. A crowd of people fills the lower part of the image, adding depth and scale. The color palette is monochromatic, using shades of brown and sepia for an antique look.
This object’s media is not available for download. Contact us about image usage.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    image: 9 1/4 x 6 15/16 in. (23.5 x 17.6 cm)

  • Accession Number

    1948.11.63

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Delteil, no. 7, State ii/ii

Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

1950

  • Rosenwald Collection: An Exhibition of Recent Acquisitions, NGA, 1950, no. 105, repro.

1964

  • The Turn of the Century, Kresge Art Center at Michigan State University, East Lansing, 1964, no. 21.

1965

  • Master Prints from the Rosenwald Collection, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, 1965, no. 107.

  • Drolleries and Demons: Six Centuries of 'Fantastic' Prints, IBM Gallery, New York, NY, 1965, no. 51.

1995

  • Prints by James McNeill Whistler and His Contemporaries, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1995, as The Cathedral.

2009

  • The Darker Side of Light: Arts of Privacy, 1850-1900, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles; NGA; Smart Museum of Art, Chicago, 2009 - 2010

Bibliography

1906

  • Delteil, Loys. Le peintre-graveur illustre. 31 vols. Paris: Published by the author, 1906-1926. Reprint. New York: Collectors Editions, Da Capo Press, 1969. Vol. 30 (Albert Besnard) is by Louis Godefroy.

Wikidata ID

Q65076453

You may be interested in

Loading Results