Demolition of the Houses on the Notre-Dame Bridge

We see a long bridge, stretched into the breadth of the horizontal format, and below it is a river with bustling activity on its banks. People are fishing, working the stones and transporting loads, women are washing laundry from a boat. On the bridge, the demolition of buildings is fully underway. There are already large gaps in the rows of houses, and the dust is whirling up.

With "Demolition of the Houses on the Notre-Dame Bridge" in Paris 1786/87", Hubert Robert (1733-1808) became the chronicler of this measure, which was to be the beginning of an initiative for considerable change in the cityscape. The 'Pont Notre-Dame' was the oldest bridge in Paris, built in twelve years, beginning in 1500.

The buildings on the bridge housed trade in luxury articles such as paintings, furniture, jewellery, and cloth. Serving as a flourishing commercial centre and a location for official celebrations, the bridge was one of the city's main lifelines. The demolition of the houses was demanded for aesthetic, security, and hygienic reasons as early as the 17th century, and later in the 18th century, by such notable advocates as Voltaire.

Since the city administration drew high and indispensable income from the rental of the bridge buildings, their removal was delayed for decades, before finally being carried out in 1786/87. Hubert Robert documented the demolitions that followed as well: Through the arches of the 'Pont Notre-Dame', one's gaze falls on three further bridges. The 'Pont-au-Change' was also built up with houses that were destroyed in 1788.

Robert captured this event as well, and with these works, among others, he advanced to become a specialist in his area and a forerunner of "ruin romanticism", which was particularly significant for art of the 19th century. The motif of ruins allowed one to look back with sentiment and a glorifying wistfulness to earlier times, which seemed more magnificent or more peaceful.