Collège Henri IV, Paris, ou Lycée Napoléon (Henry IV College or Napoleon School, Paris)

Art Historical Context

Charles Meryon’s *Collège Henri IV, Paris ou Lycée Napoléon (1864) invites visitors to glimpse the architectural splendor of one of Paris’s most storied institutions. This etching depicts the historic Collège Henri IV—also known as Lycée Napoléon during theonic era—a prestigious secondary school founded in the 17th century and housed in a grand Renaissance-style building on the Left Bank. Meryon, a visionary French artist celebrated for his *Eaux-Fortes sur* series, immortalized the city’s Gothic and classical landmarks just as Baron Haussmann’s sweeping urban renovations were transforming the capital under Napoleon III. Rendered in etching on laid paper, the work showcases Meryon’s virtuoso technique: fine, incisive lines build dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, evoking the moody atmosphere of Parisian streets. Measuring 22 × 41.3 cm, the image captures intricate architectural details—from ornate facades to bustling vignettes—making it a pinnacle of 19th-century printmaking. Etching’s precision allowed Meryon to rival painting’s depth, influencing later realists and impressionists. Part of the National Gallery of Art’s Rosenwald Collection, this print not only documents a vanishing Paris but also reflects Meryon’s own turbulent genius; plagued by mental illness, he produced fewer than 100 plates before etching plates were his final canvas. A testament to urban romance and technical mastery, it reminds us of Paris’s enduring allure.

About the Artist

Charles Meryon · 1821–1868

Charles Meryon, born on November 23, 1821, in Paris, was the illegitimate son of English physician Dr. Charles Lewis Meryon and dancer Pierre-Narcisse Chaspoux (stage name Narcisse Gentil) at the Paris Opéra. His half-sister Fanny, from his mother's prior relationship with Viscount Lowther, remained in contact after their mother's death in 1838. Raised partly outside Paris before attending Pension...