Who painted La promenade des remparts de Paris?

La promenade des remparts de Paris was painted by Pierre-Francois Courtois in 1760.

Where can I see La promenade des remparts de Paris?

La promenade des remparts de Paris is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is La promenade des remparts de Paris?

La promenade des remparts de Paris is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

La promenade des remparts de Paris

Pierre-Francois Courtois , 1760

La promenade des remparts de Paris is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Pierre-Francois Courtois. It dates from 1760 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Pierre‑François Courtois produced the print titled *La promenade des remparts de Paris* in 1760. Executed as an engraving with etching techniques, the work presents a lively urban park scene. A varied crowd—men, women, children, and figures in both elaborate and modest dress—occupies the foreground, while trees and a glass‑walled structure frame the background.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures a moment of public leisure along Paris’s former city walls, illustrating the mingling of social classes in a shared open space. By juxtaposing aristocratic attire with simpler garments, Courtois hints at the evolving social dynamics of mid‑eighteenth‑century Paris, where public promenades became venues for both display and everyday interaction.

Technique & Style

Courtois combined traditional engraving with delicate etching, allowing fine line work to render textures such as foliage, fabric folds, and architectural details. Subtle cross‑hatching creates depth in the trees and shadows on clothing, while the crisp incised lines define the figures’ outlines. This hybrid approach yields a nuanced tonal range uncommon in purely engraved prints of the period.

History & Provenance

Created in 1760, the print reflects the growing popularity of printed views of Parisian life among collectors. Though specific ownership records are scarce, similar works by Courtois circulated in French print markets and were often bound in albums of urban scenes, suggesting the piece was intended for a broad audience of connoisseurs and travelers.