Tour de Remy, Dieppe 1839

Thomas Shotter Boys created this watercolor called ‘Tour de Remy, Dieppe’. Without a date, its place in the artist's career isn’t clear. However, we can still ask how it speaks to the social and cultural history of its time. Boys was known for his cityscapes of London and Paris, which found a ready market among middle-class tourists keen to take home a picturesque souvenir. Here, we see a street scene in the French port of Dieppe. The tower looms imposingly, but the main focus is on the everyday life of the street below. Figures play games, carry goods, and go about their business. Dieppe, like other northern French coastal towns, was a popular destination for British tourists, especially after the advent of railways. Boys catered to a middle class that was eager to experience the quintessentially European culture. But he, as an artist, also helped construct that culture through his images. The historian must understand that art doesn’t just reflect social reality, but also actively shapes it. By looking at guidebooks, travel accounts, and other images of Dieppe, we can better understand Boys's role in creating a desirable image of France for British consumers.