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The image depicts a pencil sketch of a waterfront scene. Boats are shown at different distances from the viewer, with the horizon high on the page. Faint outlines of structures hint at buildings on the horizon. The boats are intricately detailed with precise lines, while the overall style is subtle and precise, using fine pencil strokes. The color palette is monochromatic, using shades of gray.
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The image depicts a pencil sketch of a waterfront scene. Boats are shown at different distances from the viewer, with the horizon high on the page. Faint outlines of structures hint at buildings on the horizon. The boats are intricately detailed with precise lines, while the overall style is subtle and precise, using fine pencil strokes. The color palette is monochromatic, using shades of gray.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

Boats on River with Masts

Charles Meryon

Medium
graphite on laid paper
Dimensions
overall: 17.6 x 29.4 cm (6 15/16 x 11 9/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
1943.3.6200
Credit line
Rosenwald Collection
Time span
1801 to 1825
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • French
  • vehicle
  • Boat
Provenance

Philippe Burty [1830-1890], Paris, (Lugt 2071); Bernard B. MacGeorge [1845-1924], Glasgow, (Lugt 394); Lessing J. Rosenwald [1891-1979], Jenkintown, PA; gift to NGA, 1943.

Inscription

"C. Meryon" lower right composition, brown ink, artist's hand. Not dated. "Seine barges / by C Meryon" verso, center sheet, graphite, unknown hand. "(from the Burty + Heywood / collections)" verso, lower right sheet, graphite, unknown hand. "c. 1366/ K.406" verso, lower left sheet, graphite, unknown hand. "3" verso, lower center sheet graphite, unknown hand. "K406" verso, lower right sheet, graphite, unknown hand. "c 1366" verso, lower right margin, graphite, unknown hand. "Con 2544" verso, lower right sheet, graphite, unknown hand.

Marks

"PB" (Philippe Burty collector's stamp) upper right composition, red stamped ink, (Lugt 2071). "LRJ" verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 1760b). "National Gallery of Art" verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 1932d). "BM" (Bernard MacGeorge collector's stamp) verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 394).

Watermarks

None.

NGA object ID 9132. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.