Artwork
Charing Cross Bridge, London
Charing Cross Bridge, London is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Camille Pissarro. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left: C.Pissarro.1890
About this work
Back in his Éragny studio, Pissarro turned the on-the-spot study into this 60-by-90-cm canvas, signing and dating it lower left: C.
From a sketch drawn on Waterloo Bridge in the summer of 1890, Camille Pissarro looked west across the Thames toward Charing Cross Bridge and the Palace of Westminster, rendering the scene in muted tones that catch the pale London light. Paddle steamers drift below, their decks a scatter of spots, while the tower of Big Ben rises in the distance. Back in his Éragny studio, Pissarro turned the on-the-spot study into this 60-by-90-cm canvas, signing and dating it lower left: C.Pissarro.1890.
Technique & Style
Painted in oil on canvas, this work measures 60 by 90 cm. It depicts a panoramic view of the River Thames with Charing Cross, the Palace of Westminster, and Westminster Abbey, combining landscape and marine genres. The painting was shown in the exhibition "Impressionists in London," consistent with its alignment with Impressionism. Pissarro's handling is characteristic of his mature period, applying paint to capture the atmospheric effects of light and weather over the river and cityscape.
The condition is not documented in the sources, but the medium and support are typical of his studio practice.
History & Provenance
Camille Pissarro painted Charing Cross Bridge, London in 1890. The artist sold the work on 18 October 1890 to the Parisian dealership Boussod, Valadon et Cie. It passed to Elkins, New York, on 23 November 1891, and by 1892 was with Durand-Ruel in Paris.
By 1930 it belonged to Paul Harth in Paris, later passing through Paul Rosenberg and Co. and Galerie Étienne Bignou (by 1939). After ownership by Alex Reid & Lefèvre, it entered the collection of William A. Cargill of Carruth, Scotland. Cargill's estate sold it at Sotheby's, London, on 11 June 1963, where Hector Brame acquired it for Paul Mellon. Mellon donated the painting to the National Gallery of Art in 1985.
The painting is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., to which it was gifted in 1985 by Paul Mellon. Its exhibition history includes a showing at Durand-Ruel in 1892, a loan by Paul Harth to the Musée de l'Orangerie in 1930, and the exhibition "Impressionists in London." No accession number is provided in the sources.
Overview
Camille Pissarro painted Charing Cross Bridge, London in 1890, following a six-week visit to the city. From his vantage point on Waterloo Bridge, the artist captured a sweeping view southwest across the Thames. The composition features the prominent Charing Cross Bridge, also known as Hungerford Bridge, with the iconic Palace of Westminster and Big Ben tower rising on the horizon.
This work is one of several London scenes Pissarro created, aiming to convey the distinctive, hazy light and bustling activity of the British capital.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a dynamic urban landscape, centered on the Thames River. Paddle steamers navigate the foreground, their presence indicating the river's commercial life. Beyond them, Charing Cross Bridge spans the water, leading the eye toward the distant Houses of Parliament and the recognizable silhouette of Big Ben.
Pissarro meticulously rendered the soft, diffused light characteristic of a London day, with the river's surface shimmering and reflecting the overcast sky, imbuing the scene with a sense of atmospheric depth.
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