Artwork

Frontispiece for the portfolio "Croquis Lithographiques par H. Vernet"

Frontispiece for the portfolio "Croquis Lithographiques par H. Vernet" is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Horace Vernet. It dates from 1818 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:recto: in stone, at center, on lithographic stone: Croquis / Lithographiques / par / H Vernet / 1818.; in stone, below image, at left: H Vernet 1818; in stone, below image, at right: Imp Lithog de F. Delpech; in graphite, at upper left, in later hand: No 22; verso: at center, in black ink: F. A. Maglin 1895 [L.1777]
Markings: Marked:recto: Albert Maroni (Lugt 150b)

About this work

Overview

Created in 1818, this frontispiece serves as the introductory image for Horace Vernet’s portfolio Croquis Lithographiques. Executed as a lithograph on wove paper and subsequently hand‑coloured, the work exemplifies the early‑19th‑century French interest in combining drawing with emerging print technologies.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts a bustling dock where a man in a blue coat and hat shoulders a wooden crate as he alights from a vessel. Around him, figures in period attire attend to various tasks, carrying a bucket, leaning on a railing, while the backdrop shows tall buildings and stacked barrels, suggesting a lively commercial environment.

Technique & Style

Printed from a smooth lithographic stone, the image retains the fluid, sketch‑like quality of Vernet’s drawing. Hand‑applied colour softens the stark lines, providing subtle tonal variation that enhances the sense of depth without obscuring the original draftsmanship.

History & Provenance

Horace Vernet (1789–1863), primarily celebrated for battle scenes, portraits, and Orientalist subjects, explored lithography as part of his broader artistic practice. This frontispiece was produced specifically for his own collection of lithographic sketches, reflecting his participation in the medium’s early development in France.

Context

The early nineteenth century saw a surge in portable, reproducible artworks, with lithography offering artists a means to disseminate studies and genre scenes to a wider audience. Vernet’s inclusion of a dock scene aligns with contemporary interests in everyday life and the expanding urban landscape.

Legacy

While not as widely reproduced as Vernet’s large‑scale paintings, the frontispiece illustrates his versatility and contributes to the documentation of early lithographic practice, providing insight into the intersection of fine art and commercial illustration during the period.

Frontispiece for the portfolio "Croquis Lithographiques par H. Vernet", Horace Vernet

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Artist & collection

Artist

Horace Vernet

Émile Jean-Horace Vernet (French pronunciation:; 30 June 1789 – 17 January 1863), better known as Horace Vernet, was a French painter of battles, portraits, and Orientalist subjects.