Who painted A View of Paris from the Pont Neuf?

A View of Paris from the Pont Neuf was painted by Nicolas-Jean-Baptiste Raguenet in 1763.

Where can I see A View of Paris from the Pont Neuf?

A View of Paris from the Pont Neuf is held by J. Paul Getty Museum.

What movement is A View of Paris from the Pont Neuf?

A View of Paris from the Pont Neuf is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of A View of Paris from the Pont Neuf?

Museum-quality prints of A View of Paris from the Pont Neuf are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

A View of Paris from the Pont Neuf

Nicolas-Jean-Baptiste Raguenet , 1763

A View of Paris from the Pont Neuf is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Nicolas-Jean-Baptiste Raguenet. It dates from 1763 and is held in the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1763 by the French painter Nicolas‑Jean‑Baptiste Raguenet, this oil on canvas presents a panoramic view of Paris as seen from the Pont Neuf. Executed in the Rococo period, the composition captures the bustling urban life of mid‑eighteenth‑century France, with the Seine river and its iconic bridge forming the central axis of the scene.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas foreground is populated by pedestrians in contemporary dress, alongside horse‑drawn carriages and market carts, suggesting daily activity along the riverbank. Beyond the bridge, prominent landmarks—including the equestrian statue of Henry IV, the Hôtel de la Monnaie, the Louvre Palace, and the Institut de France—anchor the view, offering a visual inventory of Paris’s architectural identity at the time.

Technique & Style

Raguenet employs a delicate palette of blues, ochres, and muted greens to render atmospheric light and shadow across the sky and water. The brushwork balances fine detail—especially in the rendering of façades and figures—with broader, fluid passages that convey movement, characteristic of Rococo’s graceful yet lively aesthetic.

History & Provenance

Born in 1715 and trained at the Académie de Saint‑Luc, Raguenet was the son of actor‑painter Jean‑Baptiste Raguenet and became known for his meticulous cityscapes. This particular work entered the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum, where it remains part of the museum’s European paintings holdings.

Context

The painting belongs to a broader tradition of French vedute that documented urban transformation during the Enlightenment. By depicting recognizable monuments alongside everyday street life, Raguenet’s view reflects contemporary interest in both the grandeur of the capital and the lived experience of its inhabitants.