Pont Royal in Paris. Sketch 1858 - 1861

David Jacobsen made this sketch of the Pont Royal in Paris with oil on canvas. The Pont Royal is the third oldest bridge in Paris. It was built in 1689, during the reign of Louis XIV, and it connects the Louvre Palace to the left bank of the Seine. Jacobsen lived in Paris for some time. In this picture, he captures a moment in the everyday life of the city. The painting shows a cold, pale day and depicts ordinary people passing by. Jacobsen’s painting doesn’t glorify power or wealth. Instead, he chooses a common scene. When studying art, historians might look at official records, newspaper archives, and personal letters to understand the life and times of the artist, as well as the social and institutional contexts in which the artwork was created. By looking at this painting we can understand what Jacobsen thought was important and meaningful about the city.