Artwork

Tour aux Archives à Vernon

Tour aux Archives à Vernon, by Richard Parkes Bonington, ink, 1824
Tour aux Archives à Vernon, by Richard Parkes Bonington, ink, 1824

Tour aux Archives à Vernon is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Richard Parkes Bonington. It dates from 1824 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Tour aux Archives à Vernon is a lithograph created by Richard Parkes Bonington in 1824, exemplifying the artist's blend of English and French artistic influences during his time in France.

Subject & Meaning

The print captures a specific Vernon landscape, focusing on a tall stone tower with a steep roof alongside an arched doorway, set against a serene riverside backdrop with boats and distant buildings. The scene embodies the Romantic era's emphasis on detailed, atmospheric landscapes and architectural heritage.

Technique & Style

Characterized by sharp lines and soft shadows, the lithograph showcases Bonington's skill in balancing realism with a dreamy, Romantic quality, reflective of his noted ability to capture nuanced lighting effects.

History & Provenance

Created during Bonington's residency in France (from age 14 onwards), this work is part of his oeuvre featuring old towers and castles, influenced by his English roots and French surroundings.

Context

As an English artist in 19th-century France, Bonington's work, including *Tour aux Archives à Vernon*, contributed to the cross-cultural exchange that defined French Romantic landscape painting of the era.

Legacy

Bonington's lithographs, such as *Tour aux Archives à Vernon*, are now found in prominent collections like the National Gallery of Art, Washington, reflecting his enduring contribution to Romantic landscape art.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Richard Parkes Bonington

Artist

Richard Parkes Bonington

Richard Parkes Bonington (25 October 1802 – 23 September 1828) was an English Romantic landscape painter.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.