French or Netherlandish School, 17th Century, Construction of the “Pont Royal” Bridge in Paris Oil on canvas (relined) This view of Paris with the Louvre on the right and the “Pont Neuf” and the towers of Notre Dame in the background, depicts the “Pont Royal” bridge under construction. The stone bridge was built to replace an older wooden structure over the Seine. It was commissioned and financed by King Louis XIV and built in just under four years between 1685 and 1689. The motif depicted in the painting and the artistic style suggest that this unsigned work may have been painted by the Dutch artist Pieter Casteels the Younger, to whom other views of Paris are also attributed. Pieter Casteels was a member of the Casteels family of painters from Antwerp. Little is known about his life, and no stay in Paris is documented, only some views of the French capital painted during the late 17th century indicate that he may have been there. 39.5 x 61.8 cm French or Netherlandish School, 17th Century Six further paintings by the artist in the Musée Carnavalet in Paris (inv. nos. P404, P776, P778, P779, P780, P793).