The Pont du Carrousel, Paris: View to the West from the Pont des Arts

1856-1858

Gustave Le Gray

Artist, French, 1820 - 1884

From just over a paved walkway running alongside a river, we look across the placid water toward a bridge spanning two banks of an elegant city in this horizontal, sepia-toned photograph. Printed in warm, rich tones of brown and ivory, the horizon line comes almost halfway up the composition. A few low, blocky barges and boats line the smooth river in front of us and along the opposite bank. The span of the bridge ahead of us is supported by three shallow arches with circles in descending sizes where the arches meet the pillars and the flat top of the bridge deck. A long building with rows of windows leading to a high peaked roof runs parallel to the river to our right. More buildings face the river to our left in the distance. A few shadowy forms near the left edge of the photograph, close to us, were created as people moved during the long exposure time needed for the image.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    albumen print

  • Credit Line

    Patrons' Permanent Fund

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 37.8 x 48.8 cm (14 7/8 x 19 3/16 in.)
    overall: 55.9 x 71.1 cm (22 x 28 in.)

  • Accession

    1995.36.94


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

David and Mary Robinson, Sausalito, CA; NGA purchase, 1995.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1995

  • Seeing Things, Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco, 1995.

  • The First Century of Photography: New Acquisitions, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1995.

2013

  • Impressionist France: Visions of Nation from Le Gray to Monet, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City; Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, 2013 - 2014, no. 9.

2015

  • In Light of the Past: Celebrating Twenty-Five Years of Collecting Photographs at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, May 3 – July 26, 2015

Bibliography

1982

  • Pare, Richard. Photography and Architecture: 1839-1939. Exh. cat. Centre Canadien d'Architecture. Montreal, Canada, 1982, p. 224, illus.pl.12.

1987

  • Janis, Eugenia Parry. The Photography of Gustave Le Gray. Exh. cat. The Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, 1987, pl.32.

Wikidata ID

Q64154687


You may be interested in

Loading Results