Charles Meryon

San Francisco.

1856

Charles Méryon was a French engraver, painter, draftsman and poet. He lived an adventurous life and traveled often as a Marine before dedicating himself exclusively to engraving from 1848. He engraved 72 plates on Paris, some of which, like Tour de l’Horloge, published by the important Parisian magazine L’Artiste. He realized mainly architectures, seascapes, scenes with ornithological subjects and some portraits. His prints are characterized by a rigorous game of intersecting lines, by a precision deserving of a naval draftsman, by a bold chiaroscuro with dramatic effects and romantic fantasies. He often included captions in verses in his engravings.