Charles meryon biography book

Although now little-known in the English-speaking world, he is generally recognised as the most significant etcher of 19th century France. His most famous works are a series of views powerfully conveying his distinctive Gothic vision of Paris. He also had mental illness , dying in an asylum. Meryon's mother was a dancer at the Paris Opera, who moved to London around to dance there.

In she had a daughter by Viscount Lowther, the future William Lowther, 2nd Earl of Lonsdale , a wealthy aristocrat and politician, and Charles Meryon by Dr Charles Lewis Meryon , an English doctor, returning to Paris for the birth, and remaining there for the rest of her life. The household in Paris was supported financially by both fathers, but more so by Lowther, whose indirect funding remained important throughout Meryon's life; he made very little money from his art.

Starting at the age of 16, Meryon spent ten years as a naval cadet and finally officer, which included tours of the Mediterranean, and a four year voyage around the world, for most of it based in New Zealand , where the French then maintained an imperial toe-hold. On his return he fought and was wounded in a pro-government militia during political disturbances in He had become seriously interested in art during his naval career, starting to take lessons.

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He gradually and reluctantly realized that his colour-blindness ruled out painting, and by settled on etching, then out of favour as a medium for fine art , though about to undergo a considerable revival. His best period lasted between and about , before his increasing mental illness reduced his output. He spent fourteen months in an asylum in and , then continued to work until , when he re-entered the asylum for the final time.