J. Legendre. View Of The Former Abbey Palace On Rue De l'Abbaye, Paris Saint-germain [circa 1890].

Graphite, watercolor, and white gouache highlights. 49.2 x 38.3 cm on view, in a 66 x 55 cm frame. Visible creases. Signed lower right, under the title: "J. Legendre". Charming animated view of seventeen figures in the Hôtel Furstemberg, former abbey palace of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, located on rue de l'Abbaye (6th arrondissement), opposite rue de Furstemberg. Our view was taken at the corner of rue Cardinale. The building was then occupied by the Société odontotechnique de France, the Société de Chirurgie, and the publishers Gaume et Cie. The Société de Chirurgie (now the Académie nationale de Chirurgie) was housed in this building from 1852 to 1900, before moving to 12, rue de Seine. The Odontological Institute (composed of the Odontological Society and the Dental School of France) occupied the first floor of the palace from 1883. We can therefore date this drawing between 1883 and 1900. The former abbey palace of Saint-Germain-des-Prés was built in 1586 by Cardinal de Bourbon and was remodeled in 1699 by Cardinal de Fustemberg. Sold as national property in 1797, it now houses the Catholic Institute of Paris (site "Saint-Germain"). The author of this drawing could be Joseph-Alexandre Legendre: "painter and watercolorist, born in Bléré (Indre-et-Loire), 19th century (Ec. Fr.). Student of the National School of Drawing. Debuted at the Salon in 1878. We quote from him: Tomb of the Collard-Bigé family in the Montparnasse cemetery. » (Bénézit, V, 481). Ref. A13-14