Items Similar to LE PONT AU CHANGE
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8
Charles MeryonLE PONT AU CHANGE1854
1854
$8,500
£6,322.56
€7,402.47
CA$11,860.39
A$13,272.11
CHF 6,930.07
MX$163,166.72
NOK 87,430.82
SEK 82,271.97
DKK 55,228.12
Shipping
Retrieving quote...The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation
About the Item
Meryon, Charles. LE PONT AU CHANGE. S.40(v), DW.34. Etching with drypoint, 1854. Fifth State of twelve, with the inscriptions in cursive, "C. Meryon del. sculp. mdcccliiii," lower left, and "Imp. R. Neuve St. Etienne du Mont. 26," lower right. 6 1/8 x 13 3/16 inches; 155 x 335 mm. On paper watermarked "D&C Blauw."
Le Pont au Change, or Exchange Bridge is one of the plates from Meryon's series "Eaux-Fortes sur Paris. The print went through twelve states, of which this is the fifth. In the early states (1-6) Meryon's pictured a balloon called "L'esperanza" (Hope) floating over the bridge. In states seven through ten, the balloon is replaced by a large flock of menacing birds. In the final two states, the birds are removed and several small balloons float over the bridge.
"Meryon did numerous etchings of the city of Paris, the most famous of which were published between 1850 and 1854 as the series Eaux-Fortes sur Paris. Meryon received several important commissions during the late 1850s, and his works were exhibited at the Salon, but he was increasingly plagued by financial hardship and mental instability. In 1859 he met Charles Baudelaire, who greatly admired his prints and tried to foster his artistic career by arranging for the reprinting of Eaux-Fortes sur Paris. Meryon's etchings were exhibited at the Salons of 1863 to 1867, and in 1863 a catalogue of his works was published in the prestigious "Gazette des beaux-arts." Meryon's urban views documented a Paris that was rapidly vanishing in the wake of Baron Georges-Eugene Haussmann's radical transformations of the city in the 1840s. Rather than engendering a romantic nostalgia for a "lost" France, however, Meryon's views of urban life are ominous reflections of the increasingly depersonalized city. The expansive, panoramic view of Paris in Le Pont-au-Change is somewhat unusual for Meryon, whose cityscapes were generally more limited in scope. Just beyond the Pont-au-Change, one sees the tower of the Pompe Notre-Dame, and to the right, on the Ile de la Cite, are the Palais de Justice and the Tour de l'Horloge. In various states Meryon reworked the fantastic imagery that appears in the sky, each time altering the meaning of the print. The fifth state was the first published edition of the print. The balloon in the sky bears the word SPERANZA (Italian for "hope"), as if to comment on the man floundering in the river near a small boat, ignored by the boaters as they watch the balloon. In the seventh state Meryon penciled reclining females, a snake, and a chariot in the clouds, although these changes were never rendered on the copper plate. The next major revision of the print occurred in the tenth state, when Meryon added a crescent moon and a large flock of birds that circle the city in a predatory manner. It has been suggested that Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven may have inspired this alteration. The eleventh state underwent a dramatic change; the menacing birds were removed, and a series of small balloons were added, endowing the print with a more lighthearted, whimsical character. In 1854 Meryon wrote the poem "L'Esperance" to accompany the print and metaphorically parallel the image." (From the Online Archive of California)
- Creator:Charles Meryon (1821-1868, French)
- Creation Year:1854
- Dimensions:Height: 12 in (30.48 cm)Width: 18 in (45.72 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Portland, ME
- Reference Number:Seller: 75121stDibs: LU36731445273
Charles Meryon
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.
About the Seller
5.0
Recognized Seller
These prestigious sellers are industry leaders and represent the highest echelon for item quality and design.
Gold Seller
Premium sellers maintaining a 4.3+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 1966
1stDibs seller since 2016
347 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
Associations
International Fine Print Dealers Association
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Portland, ME
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllPONTE DEL TRINITE, FLORENCE
By Ernest David Roth
Located in Portland, ME
Roth, Ernest (American, 1879-1964). PONTE DEL TRINITE, FLORENCE. Etching, 1908. Signed and dated in pencil, and inscribed by Roth with tthe title and date, and numbered "26", at the ...
Category
Early 1900s Landscape Prints
Materials
Etching
BRIDGE AT CHARTRES
By Ernest David Roth
Located in Portland, ME
Roth, Ernest (American, 1879-1964). BRIDGE AT CHARTRES. Etching, 1927. A Trial Proof before the edition (if any). Inscribed in pencil "Trial Proof A (Bridge at Chartres) 1927." Signe...
Category
Mid-20th Century Landscape Prints
Materials
Etching
SHADOWS OF VENICE - IL PONTE DI RIALTO, VENEZIA.
By John Taylor Arms
Located in Portland, ME
Arms, John Taylor (American 1887-1953). SHADOWS OF VENICE - IL PONTE DI RIALTO, VENEZIA. Etching, 1930. Edition of 140 + 14 Artist's Proofs. 10 x 12 inches (Plate), 11 3/8 x 157/8 in...
Category
1930s Landscape Prints
Materials
Etching
THE WOODEN BRIDGE, VENICE
Located in Portland, ME
Roth, Ernest (American, 1879-1964). THE WOODEN BRIDGE,VENICE. Etching, 1906. Signed and dated in pencil 7 x 8 3/8 inches (plate), 9 x 10 3/4 inches (sheet). In excellent condition.
Category
Early 1900s Landscape Prints
Materials
Etching
UNDER THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE, EAST RIVER.
By Charles Frederick William Mielatz
Located in Portland, ME
Mielatz, Charles W.(American, born Germany, 1864-1919) UNDER THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE, EAST RIVER. Published by the New York Etching Club, circa 1893. Sign...
Category
1890s Landscape Prints
Materials
Etching
FONDAMENTA DELLE ZATTERE (VIEW IN VENICE).
Located in Portland, ME
Bacher, Otto. FONDAMENTA DELLE ZATTERE (VIEW IN VENICE). Etching, 1880. #17 of the "Venice Set." Signed, titled, and dated in the plate. Framed. In excellent condition. Etching on pa...
Category
1880s Landscape Prints
Materials
Etching
You May Also Like
"Passerelle du Pont au Change" original etching
By Charles Meryon
Located in Henderson, NV
Medium: original etching. The complete title is "Passerelle du Pont au Change apres l'incendie de 1621". Catalogue reference: Delteil/Wright 50. This is a view of the footbridge whic...
Category
1860s Portrait Prints
Materials
Etching
Le Petit Pont
By Charles Meryon
Located in Roma, IT
Signed on plate with the Monogram of the artist “CM”. Original Prints.
State III/III
Passepartout included : 60 x 40 cm
Image Dimensions : 24.5 x 18.5 cm
This artwork is shipped fro...
Category
1850s Realist Landscape Prints
Materials
Etching
Le Pont Neuf à Paris
By Alexandre Louis Jacob
Located in London, GB
Alexandre Jacobs tranquil and subtle landscapes show a masterful evocation of light, atmosphere and colour, transporting the viewer into the peaceful countryside of rural France. He ...
Category
20th Century Post-Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Le Pont-Neuf" original etching
Located in Henderson, NV
Medium: original etching. Catalogue reference: Sanchez and Seydoux 1899-2. Published in Paris in 1899 for Gazette des Beaux-Arts. This is a fine impression on laid paper printed by L...
Category
1890s Prints and Multiples
Materials
Etching
La Tour de L’Horloge (The Clock Tower, Paris)
By Charles Meryon
Located in New York, NY
Charles Meryon (1821-1868), La Tour de L’Horloge (The Clock Tower, Paris), 1852, etching with engraving. Reference: Schneiderman 23, Delteil 28. Third state (of 10). On very thin Jap...
Category
1850s Realist Landscape Prints
Materials
Engraving, Etching
Le Pont de Segovie
By Eugene Bejot
Located in Middletown, NY
Etching on cream wove paper, 5 1/2 x 7 inches (138 x 176 mm), full margins. Signed in pencil in the lower margin. With minor mat tone, and two pin-point spots...
Category
Early 20th Century French School Landscape Prints
Materials
Etching, Handmade Paper
