Who painted The Old Louvre from a Painting by Zeeman, 1651?

The Old Louvre from a Painting by Zeeman, 1651 was painted by Charles Meryon in 1866.

Where can I see The Old Louvre from a Painting by Zeeman, 1651?

The Old Louvre from a Painting by Zeeman, 1651 is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Old Louvre from a Painting by Zeeman, 1651?

The Old Louvre from a Painting by Zeeman, 1651 is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

The Old Louvre from a Painting by Zeeman, 1651

Charles Meryon , 1866

The Old Louvre from a Painting by Zeeman, 1651 is a print by the Impressionist artist Charles Meryon. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Charles Meryon’s 1866 etching, titled *The Old Louvre from a Painting by Zeeman, 1651*, reimagines a 17th‑century view of the Louvre as recorded by Dutch marine painter Reinier Nooms, known as Zeeman. The print presents the historic palace set on the Seine, its massive stone façade reflected in choppy water, while a sky filled with turbulent clouds adds a dramatic atmosphere.

Subject & Meaning

The composition foregrounds the Louvre’s imposing architecture, emphasizing its relationship to the river and the bustling vessels that traverse it. By referencing Zeeman’s earlier work, Meryon underscores a nostalgic interest in Paris’s built environment, inviting viewers to contemplate the passage of time and the layered histories embedded in the city’s landmarks.

Technique & Style

Executed entirely in etching, the image relies on intricate line work to render deep shadows and bright highlights, a chiaroscuro effect that intensifies the sense of depth. Fine hatching creates texture on stone surfaces and rippling water, while broader strokes suggest the movement of clouds and the bustling activity along the banks.

History & Provenance

Meryon, a French printmaker noted for his somber depictions of Paris, produced this work near the end of his career, two years before his death in an asylum in 1868. The etching was likely printed shortly after its creation and has since entered museum collections that focus on 19th‑century French graphic art.

Context

Created during a period when Meryon was coping with color‑blindness and mental illness, the piece reflects his reliance on monochrome media. His fascination with historic Parisian scenes aligns with a broader 19th‑century revival of interest in the city’s medieval and Renaissance past, a theme also evident in his other etchings of the Seine and its bridges.

Artist & collection

Artist

Charles Meryon

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.