Landscapes Of Seine-maritime, Circa 1860 Seine / Port Pair Of Gouaches On Paper (to Be Identified)

This pair of gouaches depicts seascapes along the banks of the Seine near Paris (or another city) and at the mouth of the Seine in Le Havre, featuring port and urban buildings (Paris) as well as naval structures and port facilities (landing stages, breakwaters, etc.).

Numerous details help contextualize the works and give a sense of the delicacy with which the as-yet-unidentified artist rendered these views of the Seine. The level of detail is remarkable, from the depiction of the ships—including the inclusion of a French flag—to the buildings in the background, the figures, and so on. These landscapes of the Seine depict river activity in the mid-19th century—an era of industrialization and rapid economic growth. 

The pine frame (with a passe-partout) bears the inscription “Quimper” on the reverse, and other annotations remain to be deciphered to better attribute this pair of gouaches to an artist, a school, or a period. It is clear, however, that this is a work from the mid-19th century, dating no later than 1860, given the drawing technique and the practice of the time, which involved documenting and depicting—as academically as possible—the landscapes of France, particularly its riverine areas. The technique is all the more admirable given that these are small-format works.

Dimensions of the drawings: 11 cm wide x 7 cm high.
With frame: 24 cm wide x 21 cm high.