Artwork
Construction of an Elevated Railway: Bridge over the Cours de Vincennes
Construction of an Elevated Railway: Bridge over the Cours de Vincennes is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Paul Désiré Trouillebert. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
2 cm in height and 56 cm in width, adhering to the traditional medium of oil paint on canvas typical of late 19th-century French landscape painting.
Constructed in 1888, Construction of an Elevated Railway: Bridge over the Cours de Vincennes is an oil painting executed on a woven fabric support. The work measures 38.2 cm in height and 56 cm in width, adhering to the traditional medium of oil paint on canvas typical of late 19th-century French landscape painting. Created by Paul Désiré Trouillebert, the piece depicts architectural and natural elements, specifically a house and trees, situated within the urban development of the Cours de Vincennes.
The physical object remains a classified painting within the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The application of oil paint on this textile ground allows for the rendering of the scene's formal qualities, capturing the interplay between the constructed railway infrastructure and the surrounding environment.
History & Provenance
Construction of an Elevated Railway: Bridge over the Cours de Vincennes is an oil on canvas painting executed in 1888 in France by French artist Paul Désiré Trouillebert (1829–1900). The work was catalogued in the artist’s oeuvre that year and later entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view. Its provenance records a single transfer from the artist’s estate to the museum, establishing continuous ownership since its creation.
The painting measures approximately 38.2 × 56 cm and depicts a house and a tree beneath the railway bridge.
The painting is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it forms part of the museum's permanent collection. Its accession number within the museum's holdings is 1980.289, as recorded in the Wikidata catalogue entry. The work was created in 1888 and entered the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection in 1980. No prior exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Paul Désiré Trouillebert's 1894 oil painting, Construction of an Elevated Railway: Bridge over the Cours de Vincennes, captures a scene of industrial development. This work, executed in oil paint, depicts a landscape undergoing transformation, featuring elements of both nature and human engineering. The painting is held within the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a dusty, active construction site beneath a light sky. On the left, temporary wooden structures are visible, bordered by simple fencing. A partially completed metal bridge spans the scene, with workers positioned both on its structure and on the ground below. Scattered piles of lumber and distant trees complete this depiction of urban expansion and labor.
Context
Paul Désiré Trouillebert, a French painter, created this work during the post-impressionist period. Although known for his association with the Barbizon School, which often focused on naturalistic landscapes, this painting reflects a contemporary subject of urban infrastructure. His artistic practice thus bridged traditional landscape concerns with the evolving industrial realities of the late 19th century.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Paul Désiré Trouillebert (1829 in Paris, France – 28 June 1900 in Paris, France) was a prominent French Barbizon School painter of the mid to late nineteenth century, with works in a wide range of museums and public…
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