View of the Château of Pierrefonds

c. 1870

François-Louis Français

(French, 1814–1897)

Culture

France, 19th century

Medium

pen and black ink, brush and black and gray wash, and graphite, heightened with white gouache

Support

Green-beige laid paper

Measurements

Sheet: 42.2 x 56.2 cm (16 5/8 x 22 1/8 in.); Matted: 54.6 x 67.3 cm (21 1/2 x 26 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Bequest of Muriel Butkin 2008.380

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Location

Not on view

Description

This lush landscape shows the château of Pierrefonds in the distance framed by flourishing foliage in the foreground. The picture depicts the château from the same viewpoint as in a painting by Camille Corot (see photo), an artist who significantly influenced Français. (Corot is represented in the exhibition by a charcoal drawing [cat. no. 45] hanging nearby.) Corot's picture of Pierrefonds shows the château in ruins, whereas the pristine condition of the building in Français's view indicates that his drawing dates after the château's extensive restoration by the architect Viollet-le-Duc in 1870.