Artwork

Picturesque and Romantic Journeys in Old France: Auvergne (vol. II): Pesteil Chateau at Polminhac, Plate 202

Picturesque and Romantic Journeys in Old France: Auvergne (vol. II): Pesteil Chateau at Polminhac, Plate 202 is a print by the Romanticist artist Eugène Isabey. It dates from 1832 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 2007.240
Credit line: Gift of John Bonebrake

About this work

Overview

Eugène Isabey's Pesteil Chateau at Polminhac, Plate 202 (1832) is a lithographic print from the series Picturesque and Romantic Journeys in Old France: Auvergne (vol. II), capturing a serene yet dynamic French countryside scene.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts the Pesteil Chateau at Polminhac, set within a quiet village. Foreground elements, a broken wooden cart and a small stone house, contrast with the towering chateau, evoking a sense of everyday life alongside historic grandeur.

Technique & Style

Isabey employed a focus on textures to add depth: rough-hewn wood, smooth stone, and uneven terrain. The stormy sky enhances the Romantic ambiance, characteristic of the style's emphasis on emotion and natural beauty.

History & Provenance

Created in 1832 as part of a multi-volume series, this work contributes to a broader documentation of France's historic sites during the Romantic era.

Context

Part of Picturesque and Romantic Journeys in Old France, this piece reflects the era's interest in exploring and preserving the nation's cultural and architectural heritage through art.

Voyages pittoresques et romantiques dans l'ancienne France, Auvergne: Château de Pesteil à Polminhac, Eugène Isabey

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Artist & collection

Artist

Eugène Isabey

Eugène Louis Gabriel Isabey (French pronunciation:; 22 July 1803 – 25 April 1886) was a French painter, lithographer and watercolorist in the Romantic style.