Description & Technical information

Although many of Karsen’s urban views are difficult to locate, and indeed many depict generic towns and cities, this church in this view may be identified as Notre-Dame de Louviers, in the town of Louviers in Normandy. Shown in this drawing is the south facade and porch of the church, built between 1496 and 1510, and regarded today as among the finest examples of the Flamboyant style of Late Gothic architecture in France.

Medium: Pen and brown ink, with brown and grey wash, with framing lines in pencil
Signature: Signed K. Karssen on the verso, and inscribed K. Karssen on the former backing sheet. Inscribed S. Germain / Argentan, in a modern hand, on the backing sheet.

Dimensions: 20 x 24.1 cm (7⁷/₈ x 9¹/₂ inches)
Provenance: Marinus van Regteren Altena, Amsterdam
By descent to Iohan Quirijn van Regteren Altena, Amsterdam (his posthumous sale stamp [Lugt 4617] stamped on the verso)
By descent to his wife, Augusta Louisa Wilhelmina van Regteren Altena, née van Royen, Amsterdam, until 2006
Thence by family descent.



Categories: Paintings, Drawings & Prints