La morgue, Paris (The Mortuary)

1854

Charles Meryon

Associated Names
Charles Meryon

Artist, French, 1821 - 1868

The image shows a detailed urban scene with densely packed buildings viewed head-on. The horizon is inferred to be high in the image where buildings meet the sky. Tall, narrow buildings form rows in the distance. Architectural details are highlighted with precise lines. Figures in period clothing are seen on a quay lined with wooden structures. The color palette consists mainly of sepia tones, giving the impression of an antique photograph or etching.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Myron A. Hofer

  • Dimensions

    image: 21.2 × 19 cm (8 3/8 × 7 1/2 in.)
    plate (cut to platemark ): 23.3 × 20.9 cm (9 3/16 × 8 1/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1946.14.1

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Schneiderman 1990, no. 42, State iv/vii

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Myron A. Hofer [1893-1963]; gift to NGA, 1946.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1924

  • Delteil, Loys and Harold J.L. Wright. Catalogue raisonne of the Etchings of Charles Meryon. New York: Winfred Porter Truesdell, 1924.

1990

  • Schneiderman, Richard S. The Catalogue Raisonne of the Prints by Charles Meryon. London: Garton & Co., 1990.

Inscriptions

"C. Meryon del. sculp. mdcccliv" lower left margin, in plate, artist's hand. "Imp. Rue neuve St. Etienne-du-Mont. No 26.-" lower right margin, in plate, artist's hand. Verso: none.

Markings

"National Gallery of Art" verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 1932d). (unidentified collector's stamp) verso, black stamped ink.

Wikidata ID

Q65071221

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