Paris La Seine / Circa 1910 / Old Solferino Bridge (now Gone) / E.veder (1876-1936)

Eugène Véder (1876-1936), "The Seine and its Bridges" This pencil drawing captures a poetic and detailed view of the Seine and its emblematic bridges in Paris at the beginning of the 20th century. We can successively distinguish the Pont de Solférino in the foreground, followed by the Pont Royal in the background. The Pont de Solférino, inaugurated in 1861 under Napoleon III, connected the Quai Anatole-France to the Quai des Tuileries. Designed by the engineer Paul-Martin Gallocher de Lagalisserie, this three-arched cast iron bridge was named after the French victory at the Battle of Solférino (1859). Although its elegant architecture marked the era, it was demolished in 1961 due to damage caused by repeated collisions with barges and a structure that had become unstable. This drawing by Véder therefore constitutes a valuable historical testimony, showing a bridge that has now disappeared.

11 x 21 without frame
30 x 40 with frame
signed lower right

On the right, we can see the old Orsay station, now transformed into the Musée d'Orsay, with its remarkable architecture. Further back, still on the right, we can see the domes of the Institut de France, headquarters of the Académie française. On the horizon, we can also see the majestic towers of Notre-Dame de Paris, reinforcing the depth and iconic character of this view. On the left, we can make out the elegant silhouettes of the Louvre and the Tuileries, architectural emblems of Paris, harmoniously framing the landscape. In the foreground, a typical boat of the time – probably a steam-powered barge – sails on the Seine. This detail illustrates the river dynamism of Paris at the beginning of the 20th century, contrasting with the serenity of the banks.

Eugène Louis Véder, born in 1876 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye and died in 1936, is a French artist renowned for his drawings and engravings, notably his colored etchings representing Paris. Inspired by Jean-François Raffaëlli, Véder began his artistic career shortly before the First World War, exhibiting at the Salon des Indépendants. In the 1920s, he became known for his detailed representations of Parisian life. He exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français from 1922, became a member of the society, and received a bronze medal in 1923, then a silver medal in 1925. Véder received prestigious commissions, notably from the Chalcographie du Louvre, and established his studio on Place de l'Estrapade in the Latin Quarter. His major work, "Paris: Fifty Colored Etchings", commissioned by Albert Morancé, remains one of the finest artistic testimonies of the city.