Post 186 -by Gautam Shah
Sunday Feature on ART of Architecture
Charles Meryon (also Méryon) (1821-1868) was a French artist. He worked almost exclusively in etchings (since 1848 ), as he suffered from colour blindness. He was also handicapped by mental illness.
Meryon is recognized as the most important etching artist of 19th C France. He, from a young age, wanted to serve with the Navy. In the Navy, he sailed around the world including, Australasia and the South Seas. He sketched his voyages, such as landscapes, houses, or boats sailing near the coast. Many years later, these sketches became part of his etchings.
Meryon’s earliest projects belonged to the conventional history views, but it was after he was forced to etching, he began to work on architectural subjects, often in a romantic style. In his etchings he took Paris as his principal topic, and it was here that his art truly began to flourish.
Meryon’s drawings include human figures and animals, but show his lack of training. But he presented those visuals as a reflection of different cultures.
Meryon was a meticulous person in detailing out the architecture. He would devise a complete building from the multiple sketches, as bottom upwards, the same manner as the builder. His etchings of Paris cover straightforward topographical views along with romantic and disturbing fantasies.
Charles Meryon was a peculiar genius but of sulking and introspective temperament. He had a mother who was a flirt, and very disturbed childhood. He died as poor person, in a mental asylum.
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