Henri Le Riche — Chartres Cathedral, Pencil-Signed Framed Engraving

Description

Chartres Cathedral rises above a cluster of steep-roofed houses in this pencil-signed engraving by Henri Le Riche. The narrow vertical view leads from the water and stone parapet in the foreground toward the cathedral’s paired spires. Dark foliage at the upper corners and closely worked architectural lines frame the light-filled center, giving the small image depth and a strong sense of place.

Le Riche was a French painter and engraver whose work included architectural subjects. Here, the contrast between densely shaded buildings, broken reflections and open paper brings the historic townscape to life without color. The pencil signature Henri Le Riche appears below the image. A wide muted olive-brown mat and slender dark frame with a gold-tone inner edge emphasize the print’s restrained tonal character.

Overall framed dimensions are approximately 19½ inches high by 16 inches wide. The paper shows age-related toning and scattered small spots. A small nick is visible at the frame’s upper-right corner, with additional light edge wear. The reverse has a hanging wire. The precise printing date is unconfirmed.