Demolition of the Old Vestibule of the Palais-Royal, Paris 1762 - 1772

Pierre Antoine Demachy's "Demolition of the Old Vestibule of the Palais-Royal, Paris" (1762-1772) depicts the partial destruction of the palace's entrance. This watercolor, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, captures the scene of workers dismantling the building while others stand by and watch. Demachy's detailed rendering of the rubble and the workers' tools creates a sense of the labor involved in such a large-scale project. The composition highlights the contrast between the grandeur of the palace and the temporary nature of the demolition, suggesting the changing face of Paris.