Maison Grande, Rue St. Pierre n.d.

Richard Parkes Bonington created this print, Maison Grande, Rue St. Pierre, using lithography during a time of significant cultural change in Europe. Bonington, though British, spent much of his career in France, and was working during the Romantic period, an era defined by its turn towards emotion, individualism, and the glorification of the past. Here, Bonington turns to the past, capturing the architecture and street life of a bygone era. The detailed rendering of the buildings contrasts with the anonymous figures populating the street. They become a part of the backdrop against the grandeur of the architecture. During this period, artists often sought to represent the "picturesque," finding beauty in scenes of everyday life and historical settings. Bonington’s print reflects a longing for a pre-industrial past, one that carries a strong sense of nostalgia. This depiction highlights a collective yearning for simpler times amid the complexities of a rapidly changing world.