Nicolas Joseph Kellin
Calais 1789 – Samer 1858
View of the Gizeh pyramids; View of an oasis, a pair
Pen and brown ink, brown wash.
Signed and dated Kellin 1836 lower left.
55 x 242 mm – 2 3/16 x 9 ½ in.
Nicolas Joseph Kellin trained with Camille Roqueplan and Richard Parkes Bonington and dedicated to watercolor painting. He exhibited from 1833 to 1842 at the Paris Salon but also in Douai, Arras, Valenciennes, and Boulogne-sur-mer. The Louvre preserves two of his watercolors representing views of Eu in Normandy (Inv. 35283 and 35284). Kellin executed many picturesque views of Normandy and other regions of France, which situates him in the wake of the voyage pittoresque, a trend in fashion in the first half of 19th century, led by Adrien Dauzats who travelled across France in search of views of local architectures and traditional scenes to be published in the book edited by Baron Taylor from 1820 to 1878, Voyage pittoresque et romantique dans l’ancienne France.
His further travels to Turkey and Egypt are evidenced by several drawings such as the present panoramic views.
