La Madeleine, Paris, Isidore Laurent Deroy, c.1835–1855, hand-colored lithograph, 10 × 6.5 in., Paris éditeurs.
This rare 19th-century Paris cityscape is a hand-colored lithograph by Isidore Laurent Deroy depicting La Madeleine, the monumental neoclassical church inspired by a Roman temple. Drawn from life and lithographed by the artist during the early Second Empire period, the work records Parisian civic and religious architecture before Haussmann’s transformation. Published by leading Paris éditeurs R. Lebrasseur and Dutot, and printed by Imp. Marie & Cie, this original antique lithograph exemplifies French architectural printmaking and is ideal for collectors of historic Paris views, neoclassical monuments, and 19th-century European works on paper.
Artwork Description:
This finely executed 19th-century lithograph presents a commanding view of La Madeleine, one of Paris’s most distinctive monuments, conceived as a neoclassical temple and set prominently within its urban setting. The massive Corinthian colonnade and sculpted pediment dominate the composition, while figures, horse-drawn carriages, and pedestrians animate the square, offering a vivid portrayal of Parisian life during the mid-19th century.
The work is a hand-colored stone lithograph drawn directly from nature and executed by Isidore Laurent Deroy, as confirmed by the in-plate inscription “Dessiné d’après nature et lithog. par Deroy.” Deroy’s precise architectural draftsmanship conveys scale, proportion, and perspective with clarity, while restrained hand coloring enriches stone surfaces, foliage, and costumes without obscuring the lithographic line.
Publisher and printer imprints situate the work within a professional Parisian publishing network active during the 1830s–1850s. The lithograph was issued by R. Lebrasseur (47, rue de la Victoire) and Dutot (36, rue de Rivoli), and printed by Imp. Marie & Cie (17, rue Salle-au-Comte, Paris). Historically, the image documents La Madeleine shortly after its completion as a functioning church, reinforcing its architectural and documentary significance within Deroy’s Paris views.
Artist Biography:
Isidore Laurent Deroy was a French painter, draughtsman, and prolific lithographer of architectural views and historic sites. Born in Paris in 1797, he studied under Louis-François Cassas, whose influence shaped Deroy’s disciplined approach to architectural accuracy and topographical representation.
Deroy exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon from 1822 to 1866 and became widely recognized for his lithographs documenting Parisian monuments, civic spaces, and historic architecture drawn directly from life. His works form a crucial visual record of Paris before Haussmann’s modernization and are held in major institutional collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian Institution, and numerous French museums. His artistic legacy continued through his sons, Émile Deroy and Auguste-Victor Deroy, both accomplished artists.
Isidore Laurent Deroy (French, 1797–1886), La Madeleine, Paris, c.1835–1855. Hand-colored lithograph. Drawn and lithographed by the artist. Published by Lebrasseur & Dutot. Printed by Imp. Marie & Cie. 10 × 6.5 in.
Certificate of Value & Authentication:
This artwork is an authentic 19th-century French lithograph by Isidore Laurent Deroy, confirmed by the in-plate inscription stating the work was drawn from nature and lithographed by the artist. Publisher and printer imprints from Lebrasseur, Dutot, and Imp. Marie & Cie verify period Paris production consistent with Deroy’s documented oeuvre and historic Paris views.
Provenance:
Mitch Morse Gallery, New York City (acquired through NYC and European sources)
Private collection
Current owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
La Madeleine, Paris, Isidore Laurent Deroy, c.1835–1855, hand-colored lithograph, 10 × 6.5 in., Paris éditeurs.
This rare 19th-century Paris cityscape is a hand-colored lithograph by Isidore Laurent Deroy depicting La Madeleine, the monumental neoclassical church inspired by a Roman temple. Drawn from life and lithographed by the artist during the early Second Empire period, the work records Parisian civic and religious architecture before Haussmann’s transformation. Published by leading Paris éditeurs R. Lebrasseur and Dutot, and printed by Imp. Marie & Cie, this original antique lithograph exemplifies French architectural printmaking and is ideal for collectors of historic Paris views, neoclassical monuments, and 19th-century European works on paper.
Artwork Description:
This finely executed 19th-century lithograph presents a commanding view of La Madeleine, one of Paris’s most distinctive monuments, conceived as a neoclassical temple and set prominently within its urban setting. The massive Corinthian colonnade and sculpted pediment dominate the composition, while figures, horse-drawn carriages, and pedestrians animate the square, offering a vivid portrayal of Parisian life during the mid-19th century.
The work is a hand-colored stone lithograph drawn directly from nature and executed by Isidore Laurent Deroy, as confirmed by the in-plate inscription “Dessiné d’après nature et lithog. par Deroy.” Deroy’s precise architectural draftsmanship conveys scale, proportion, and perspective with clarity, while restrained hand coloring enriches stone surfaces, foliage, and costumes without obscuring the lithographic line.
Publisher and printer imprints situate the work within a professional Parisian publishing network active during the 1830s–1850s. The lithograph was issued by R. Lebrasseur (47, rue de la Victoire) and Dutot (36, rue de Rivoli), and printed by Imp. Marie & Cie (17, rue Salle-au-Comte, Paris). Historically, the image documents La Madeleine shortly after its completion as a functioning church, reinforcing its architectural and documentary significance within Deroy’s Paris views.
Artist Biography:
Isidore Laurent Deroy was a French painter, draughtsman, and prolific lithographer of architectural views and historic sites. Born in Paris in 1797, he studied under Louis-François Cassas, whose influence shaped Deroy’s disciplined approach to architectural accuracy and topographical representation.
Deroy exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon from 1822 to 1866 and became widely recognized for his lithographs documenting Parisian monuments, civic spaces, and historic architecture drawn directly from life. His works form a crucial visual record of Paris before Haussmann’s modernization and are held in major institutional collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian Institution, and numerous French museums. His artistic legacy continued through his sons, Émile Deroy and Auguste-Victor Deroy, both accomplished artists.
Isidore Laurent Deroy (French, 1797–1886), La Madeleine, Paris, c.1835–1855. Hand-colored lithograph. Drawn and lithographed by the artist. Published by Lebrasseur & Dutot. Printed by Imp. Marie & Cie. 10 × 6.5 in.
Certificate of Value & Authentication:
This artwork is an authentic 19th-century French lithograph by Isidore Laurent Deroy, confirmed by the in-plate inscription stating the work was drawn from nature and lithographed by the artist. Publisher and printer imprints from Lebrasseur, Dutot, and Imp. Marie & Cie verify period Paris production consistent with Deroy’s documented oeuvre and historic Paris views.
Provenance:
Mitch Morse Gallery, New York City (acquired through NYC and European sources)
Private collection
Current owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
Image 1 of 7
Image 2 of 7
Image 3 of 7
Image 4 of 7
Image 5 of 7
Image 6 of 7
Image 7 of 7
