Works Rouen Resurgent

Rouen Resurgent

1956

oil on canvas

51h x 102w (cm)

Recto: signed and dated lower left: R. Eurich.1956


Tags:
Commissioned Works
France
Panoramas
Rouen
Sets
Ships / Boats / Harbours
Themes
Towns / Town Life / Buildings

Subject
Seine
architecture
building
river
topographical view
urban landscape

Medium
Oil

In 1956 Richard was commissioned to do a painting to commemorate the re-dedication of the Rouen Cathedral after a major rebuilding project. The cathedral had been badly damaged in two Allied bombing raids during the D-Day push into Normandy in the WW2.

Records about the commission itself and the works which came out of it are incomplete. Richard seems to have painted at least four Rouen pictures, but it is proving difficult to unpick which ones were exhibited when because the titles of most of the works were changed from one show to the next and the picture dimensions are not always quoted. None of them seem to have been delivered to the client and we do not know who the client was.

The four works we know of are:

- REP/PC

There are two different photographs of this work - the one shown above and the one shown without the people in the foreground etc below. They either depict the same painting at different stages, or they record two separate paintings. The backgrounds in the photos match so precisely, we think the first is most likely. Richard's daughters remember the painting with its collaged frame hanging in their home for a long time.

- REP

Rouen was severely damaged by Allied bombing, particularly between the quais on the Seine and the medieval cathedral which is the subject of this view. A massive rebuilding programme for this area, master-minded by the architect Louis Arretche, was undertaken in a largely period style. A service to commemorate the completion  of this work seems to have been held in the cathedral in 1956 to which Eurich, it would seem, was invited. Another painting on the same theme (Private Collection) has come to light recently, showing the rebuilding work still in progress.

[Nicholas Usherwood]

- The Edge of all the Land exhibition catalogue, 1994

Provenance & Events

COMMISSIONED • [date unknown]

by ? to mark the re-dedication of Rouen Cathedral [Visionary Artist” Catalogue, Millais (2003)]

EXHIBITION • 4th May to 18th Aug 1957

"Summer Exhibition 1957"

Royal Academy of Arts

Cat 46; shown as 'Rouen Resurgent 1956'; attribution uncertain. See Note.

EXHIBITION • 1st to 24th Oct 1958

"Richard Eurich, Derek Middleton, Maurice Utrillo"

Redfern Gallery

Cat 17; shown as 'Rouen II' ; Attribution uncertain. Two of the Rouen pictures shown were simply titled Rouen I and Rouen II. We have no clues which of three candidates should be attributed either of these two catalogue entries. See Note.

EXHIBITION • December 1966

"46th Annual Exhibition, Bournemouth Arts Club"

Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum
Priced at GNS300
SOLO SHOW • 27th Feb to 23rd Mar 1968

"Richard Eurich Paintings"

Arthur Tooth & Sons

Cat 8, illustrated (shows people in foreground and news cuttings on frame)

Priced at £350
ACQUIRED • 1968

purchased by private collector, probably from the Tooth's show

For £350
AUCTION • 1st Apr 1989

"[title unknown]"

Sloan Auctioneers

lot 2492, illustrated

AUCTION • 15th Oct 1993
Sold for £18,400
SOLO SHOW • 28th Jan to 13th Mar 1994

"The Edge of all the Land: Richard Eurich 1903-1992"

Southampton City Art Gallery

Cat 55

References:

Books

  • "Richard Eurich (1903-1992) Visionary Artist"; Edward Chaney and Christine Clearkin (contributions by James Hyman, David McCann and Peyton Skipwith), pub. 2003: Paul Holberton Publishing, ISBN 1903470110 [Figure 19 in catalogue, not exhibited]
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