Artwork
An Old House at Bourges, sometimes called the Musician's House
An Old House at Bourges, sometimes called the Musician's House is a print by the Impressionist artist Charles Meryon. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
An Old House at Bourges (also known as The Musician's House) is an 1860 etching by French artist Charles Meryon, depicting a historic house in Bourges with distinctive architectural features.
Subject & Meaning
The etching shows a narrow Bourges street scene, focusing on an old house with a steep, tiled roof and a small tower. Despite its alternate title, The Musician's House, no musical elements are visible; the scene instead emphasizes everyday life, with a cart outside a shop and two conversing figures.
Technique & Style
Meryon employed sharp, detailed lines to capture the textures of wood and stone, lending the scene a sense of realism. His etching technique highlights his attention to architectural and environmental detail, characteristic of his Gothic-infused vision.
History & Provenance
Created in 1860, the etching is part of Meryon's mid-19th-century output, primarily featuring Parisian architectural views. Meryon's life was later marked by mental illness, leading to his death in an asylum in 1868. The work is now part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.
Context
As the son of a Paris Opera dancer, Meryon's work was influenced by his surroundings, though this piece deviates from his typical Parisian subjects. The etching reflects his interest in historic, possibly Gothic, architecture.
Legacy
While specific legacy details of *An Old House at Bourges* are not highlighted, the piece contributes to Meryon's reputation for detailed, Gothic-tinged depictions of 19th-century French architecture, despite the challenges posed by his color blindness.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Meryon (sometimes Méryon, 23 November 1821 – 14 February 1868) was a French artist who worked almost entirely in etching, as he had colour blindness.
