View of the facade of the Hôtel de Ville, Paris, in the foreground a cross on a stepped platform and a freestanding domed building

Art Historical Context

This etching captures a detailed view of the Hôtel de Ville, Paris’s historic city hall, set against the bustling urban landscape of the seventeenth century. In the foreground, a prominent cross rises on a stepped platform beside a freestanding domed structure, framing the grand Renaissance-style facade with its symmetrical towers and ornate detailing. Created through the delicate art of etching, the print translates architectural precision into fine lines and subtle tonal contrasts, allowing viewers to appreciate both the building’s monumental presence and the surrounding cityscape. Produced between roughly 1636 and 1691, the work reflects the collaborative efforts of printmakers Israel Silvestre, Jean Marot, and Stefano della Bella—artists celebrated for their topographical views and architectural studies. Silvestre, in particular, specialized in documenting Paris’s evolving monuments, helping to preserve visual records of the city during a period of significant urban development under royal patronage. Such prints served not only as artistic souvenirs but also as valuable references for architects and historians. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this piece exemplifies how etchings bridged fine art and practical documentation, offering modern audiences an intimate glimpse into seventeenth-century Parisian life and design.

About the Artist

Israel Silvestre|Jean Marot|Stefano della Bella|Israel Silvestre (French) · 1621 –1691

French, Nancy 1621–1691 Paris