"La Place des Pyramides" corresponds to the larger painting of the same title which De Nittis executed in 1875 and later gave to the Louvre in 1883. The importance that De Nittis accorded to the Place des Pyramides is indicated by this gift and by the various other images he did of it from other angles. De Nittis frequently painted smaller versions of his more prized works and it is likely that this work was executed between the years 1875 and 1878. The painting shows the Place dominated by the statue of Jeanne d'Arc during a moment of transition while the Tuileries were being restructured. In the painting he adeptly conveys the moment of perception within the context of an urban environment. The two pictures are compositionally similar, however, this version is executed with greater strenth and freshness of color which indicates that De Nittis intended from its inception that it be more than a sketch.

This painting will be sold with a photocertificate from André Schoeller dated July 8, 1947 and with a photocertificate from Annie Paule Quinsac dated June 3, 1991.

We are grateful to Prof. Annie Paule Quinsac for her assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.