1878 Deroy Père Lithograph View of the 1878 Paris Exposition Universelle

This is an 1878 Isidore Laurent Deroy lithograph view of the 1878 Paris Exposition Universelle.

A Closer Look

The Palais de Trocadéro, specially constructed for the Exposition, appears on the right. The Trocadéro was used to greet foreign dignitaries, as a concert hall, and as an exhibition gallery. It was a temporary structure not meant to survive the Exposition but stood until 1937, when it was replaced by the Palais de Chaillot. The individual pavilions dedicated to specific countries are illustrated in front of the Palais. Across the Pont d'Iéna (Iéna Bridge) on the Champ de Mars is the Palais de l'Exposition, which occupied 420,000 square meters. Paris extends to the horizon, and one can distinguish the Invalides, the obelisk on the Place de la Concorde, the Louvre, and the towers and spire of Notre Dame, among other landmarks.

The 1878 Exposition Universelle

The 1878 Exposition Universelle took place on the Champ de Mars and the Chaillot hill, which were connected by the Pont d'Iéna (the Iéna Bridge). Today, the Eiffel Tower and the Palais de Chaillot sit on either side of the Pont d'Iéna. The Exposition was meant to celebrate France's 'resurgence' following their quick and ignominious defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. It featured the Avenue des Nations (Avenue of Nations), which was devoted to examples of domestic architecture from nations across the world, and the Palais de l'Exposition on the Champ de Mars.

Publication History and Census

This view was drawn and lithographed by Isidore Laurent Deroy, printed by the Imprimerie Becquet, and published by Dusacq and Company in 1878. This is the only known surviving example of the present colored edition. A single example of a sepia-toned edition is part of the collection at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.