Thomas Girtin (1775-1802)

The present group of etchings was executed following Girtin's only trip abroad. He left for Paris in November 1801 and remained there until May 1802, when he returned to London. Paris had only recently been made accessible to the English traveller again by the signing of the Peace of Amiens and Girtin's work from this trip consists principally of twenty views, based on his on-the-spot sketches, which were subsequently etched by Girtin himself, and published postumously in 1803 by his brother John Girtin as A Selection of the most Picturesque Views in Paris and its Environs.