Engraved:
By Thomas Jeavons in 1834, published in 1835.
In this watercolour, Turner presents a view over the Pont d’Arcole bridge spanning the River Seine in central Paris, France. Turner portrays the bridge stretching over the mid-ground, with light falling dramatically onto its tower at centre and lighting up its right side. The background is filled with tall Parisian buildings, including the Hôtel de Ville (the city hall). Turner places the viewer in the heart of the multi-layered and busy city and its activities. Figures are indicated on the bridge, boats on the water, and further figures along the various levels of the quayside – whether in the foreground, down by the water’s edge or from a balcony overlooking the scene from the bottom far right corner. Figures in the foreground face the viewer. Women on the left sit on the ground enveloped by dogs and children; another woman at right carries a dog. Turner includes a sign next to one of the seated women which bears the inscription ‘chiens’, the French word for dogs. The full title of this watercolour refers to the dog market in the foreground. This part of Paris was known for poodle groomers, as well as tooth pullers, and assorted other vendors.
The watercolour is based on a pencil sketch (Tate
D24295; Turner Bequest CCLVII 66),
1 with reference to further sketches (
D24290; CCLVII 63a),
2 from Turner’s
Paris and Environs sketchbook of 1832.
An engraving was made of this watercolour by Thomas Jeavons, as
Hôtel de Ville and Pont d’Arcole (Tate impressions
T04722,
T05623 and
T06260) for the volume
Wanderings by the Seine of 1835.
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