Artwork

A Selection of Twenty of the Most Picturesque Views in Paris: View from Palace Terrace, at St. Germain en Laye, the Aquaduct of Marli seen in the Distance

A Selection of Twenty of the Most Picturesque Views in Paris: View from Palace Terrace, at St. Germain en Laye, the Aquaduct of Marli seen in the Distance is a print by the Romanticist artist Girtin. It is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1803, this print by English artist Thomas Girtin presents a panoramic view from the terrace of the palace at Saint‑Germain‑en‑Laye. The composition opens onto a broad, gently rolling landscape dominated by a river that winds through the centre of the picture, leading the eye toward a distant stone aqueduct identified as the Aqueduct of Marly.

Subject & Meaning

The work captures a tranquil, bucolic scene where modest dwellings cluster near the water’s edge and figures are shown engaged in everyday activities such as walking and field work. A large stone bridge spans the river, while a domed structure rises on a hill, suggesting the interplay of human architecture and natural topography typical of early 19th‑century picturesque ideals.

Technique & Style

Executed as a print, Girtin employs a restrained palette of muted greens, browns and grays, rendering the sky with soft, lightly clouded tones. Fine details—such as a plume of smoke from a chimney—are rendered with delicate line work, contributing to the scene’s sense of liveliness while maintaining the overall calm atmosphere.

History & Provenance

Thomas Girtin, noted for advancing watercolour and printmaking in Britain, produced this image as part of a series titled “A Selection of Twenty of the Most Picturesque Views in Paris.” The print entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains accessible to the public.

Context

The depiction aligns with the burgeoning Romantic interest in the picturesque, a movement that emphasized the aesthetic value of natural scenery infused with subtle emotional resonance. Girtin’s contemporary, J. M. W. Turner, pursued similar themes, positioning this work within a broader shift toward valuing landscape as a subject of artistic merit.

Artist & collection

Artist

Girtin

Thomas Girtin (18 February 1775 – 9 November 1802) was an English watercolourist and etcher. A friend and rival of J. M. W. Turner, Girtin played a key role in establishing watercolour as a reputable art form.