Artwork

Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, Paris (Church of St. Stephen of the Mount, Paris)

Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, Paris (Church of St. Stephen of the Mount, Paris) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Charles Meryon. It dates from 1852 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1852, this print depicts the Church of Saint‑Étienne‑du‑Mont in Paris.

Inscription: Inscribed:"C.M" upper right composition, in plate, artist's hand. Not dated. "7"[encircled and erased] lower right margin, graphite, unknown hand. "M[possible artist's signature]" verso, lower right sheet, artist's hand. "2" verso, lower center sheet, graphite, unknown hand. "c57210" verso, lower left sheet, graphite, unknown hand.
Markings: Marked:"LRJ" verso, black stamped ink, stamped three times, (Lugt 1760b). "National Gallery of Art" verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 1932d). (Charles W. Dowdeswell collector's stamp) verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 690).

About this work

Overview

Created in 1852, this print depicts the Church of Saint‑Étienne‑du‑Mont in Paris. Executed as an etching on green laid paper, the image captures the tall façade, clock tower and pointed spire, rendered with crisp, precise lines that emphasize the wet ground and the modest figures gathered beneath the arches.

Subject & Meaning

The work presents the Gothic church as a focal point of urban life, juxtaposing its stone mass and intricate carvings with the fleeting presence of pedestrians. The damp atmosphere and sharp chiaroscuro suggest a moment of quiet contemplation amid the bustling cityscape.

Technique & Style

Meryon employed traditional copper‑plate etching, incising lines that allow for both deep shadows and delicate architectural detail. The green‑toned laid paper provides a subtle background hue, enhancing the contrast of the etched lines and reinforcing the work’s overall clarity.

History & Provenance

Part of a series of architectural views that defined Charles Meryon’s career, the print reflects his lifelong fascination with Paris’s medieval structures. Meryon, a French etcher who suffered from colour blindness and later mental illness, produced these images before his death in an asylum in 1868.

Context

Meryon’s focus on Gothic monuments aligns with mid‑nineteenth‑century French interest in historic preservation and romanticized urban scenery. His personal background, his mother’s involvement with the Paris Opera, infused his work with a nuanced awareness of the city’s cultural layers.

Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, Paris (Church of St. Stephen of the Mount, Paris), Charles Meryon

Artist & collection

Artist

Charles Meryon

Charles Meryon (sometimes Méryon, 23 November 1821 – 14 February 1868) was a French artist who worked almost entirely in etching, as he had colour blindness.