Arthur Marie comte du Passage (1838 - 1909)

“Un Soir à Paris” (Archive, water colour, eBay offered december 2023: 600€)

This painting by the French sculptor shows a typical “Banc Davioud” and a “Colonne Morris”.

Gabriel Davioud (1824-1881) was a French architect working with Baron Hausmann in the transformation of Paris under Napoleon III. Besides many buildings, institutes, the Trocadero, parks etc… he not only designed the typical double sided bench which bares his name and of which some 8500 once were placed in the city but also was responsible for the final design of the iconic Morris columns which both give so much charm to the City of Light.  

The impressionist Morris column (above)  is by Canadian painter (and friend of Albert Marquet) James Wilson Morrice (1865-1924) the one beneath by Jean Béraud (1849-1935).