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Charles Meryon
Charles Meryon

Charles Meryon

French, 1821-1868
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Charles Meryon was a French artist who worked almost entirely in etching, as he suffered from colour blindness. Although now little-known in the English-speaking world, he is generally recognised as the most significant etcher of 19th century France. His most famous works are a series of views powerfully conveying his distinctive Gothic vision of Paris. He also suffered from mental illness, dying in an asylum.

Meryon's mother was a dancer at the Paris Opera, who moved to London around 1814 to dance there. In 1818 she had a daughter by Viscount Lowther, the future William Lowther, 2nd Earl of Lonsdale, a wealthy aristocrat and politician, and 1821 Charles Meryon by Dr Charles Lewis Meryon, an English doctor, returning to Paris for the birth, and remaining there for the rest of her life. The household in Paris was supported financially by both fathers, but more so by Lowther, whose indirect funding remained important throughout Meryon's life; he made very little money from his art.

Starting at the age of 16, Meryon spent ten years as a naval cadet and finally officer, which included tours of the Mediterranean, and a four year voyage around the world, for most of it based in New Zealand, where the French then maintained an imperial toe-hold. On his return he fought and was wounded in a pro-government militia during political disturbances in 1848.

He had become seriously interested in art during his naval career, starting to take lessons. He gradually and reluctantly realized that his colour-blindness ruled out painting, and by 1848 settled on etching, then out of favour as a medium for fine art, though about to undergo a considerable revival. His best period lasted between 1850 and about 1856, before his increasing mental illness reduced his output. He spent fourteen months in an asylum in 1858 and 1859, then continued to work until 1866, when he re-entered the asylum for the final time.

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Tourelle Rue de l’Ecole de Médecine, 22 (House with a Turret, No 22, rue de l’Ecole de Médecine, Paris)

Tourelle Rue de l’Ecole de Médecine, 22 (House with a Turret, No 22, rue de l’Ecole de Médecine, Paris) (1861)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Landscape
Chevet de St. Martin-sur-Renelle (The apse of the Church of St. Martin-sur-Renelle, Paris, after Langlois)

Chevet de St. Martin-sur-Renelle (The apse of the Church of St. Martin-sur-Renelle, Paris, after Langlois) (1860)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Landscape
Château de Chenonceau, No 1, after Ducerceau

Château de Chenonceau, No 1, after Ducerceau (1856)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Landscape
Casimir le Conte, after Boulanger

Casimir le Conte, after Boulanger (1856)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Illustration
Benjamin Fillon

Benjamin Fillon (1862)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Illustration
An Old House, or The Musician’s House, Bourges

An Old House, or The Musician’s House, Bourges (1860)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Landscape
Address-card of the printseller, Rochoux

Address-card of the printseller, Rochoux (1855)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Illustration
A Raven Perched on a Rail

A Raven Perched on a Rail

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Illustration
Lunar Law

Lunar Law (1856)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
Seated Female Figure for ‘San Francisco’

Seated Female Figure for ‘San Francisco’ (probably c. 1856)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
A Raven Perched on a Rail

A Raven Perched on a Rail (mid-19th century)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
A Lyre Bird

A Lyre Bird (ca. 1846–55)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
A Golden Eagle

A Golden Eagle (after 1859)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
A European Jay

A European Jay (ca. 1863)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
A Bird of Paradise

A Bird of Paradise (1835–68)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
Two Boats for ‘L’Abside de Notre-Dame de Paris’

Two Boats for ‘L’Abside de Notre-Dame de Paris’ (probably c. 1854)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
Study for ‘Le Petit Pont’

Study for ‘Le Petit Pont’ (probably c. 1850)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
Seine Boat for ‘Le Pont-au-Change’

Seine Boat for ‘Le Pont-au-Change’ (probably c. 1854)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
Seated Male Figure for ‘San Francisco’

Seated Male Figure for ‘San Francisco’ (probably c. 1856)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
Casimir le Conte, after Boulanger

Casimir le Conte, after Boulanger (1856)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Landscape
The Clock Tower

The Clock Tower (ca. 1852)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
A Dredge

A Dredge

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
House with a Turret, rue de la Tixéranderie, Paris

House with a Turret, rue de la Tixéranderie, Paris (1852)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Landscape
It Rocks but is Not Sunk

It Rocks but is Not Sunk (1854)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
Portrait of François Viète

Portrait of François Viète (1861)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
Rue des Toiles, Bourges

Rue des Toiles, Bourges (1853)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Landscape
San Francisco, Study

San Francisco, Study (1855–56)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
Study

Study (1845)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
Swift-Sailing Proa, Mulgrave Archipelago, Oceania

Swift-Sailing Proa, Mulgrave Archipelago, Oceania (1866)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
The Gallery of Notre-Dame, Paris

The Gallery of Notre-Dame, Paris (1853)

Charles Meryon (French, 1821-1868)
Drawings
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