Statue of Henri-IV, Morning, Winter Sunlight (First Series)

Now at the Krannert Art Museum, this 1900 canvas captures the equestrian statue of Henri IV on the Pont-Neuf in winter morning sunlight — one of the first Pont-Neuf series views. The statue of Henry IV, the beloved king of France, had stood on the Île de la Cité end of the bridge since 1818. Including it in the composition added historical depth to what might otherwise be a purely atmospheric study. Winter morning sunlight created strong, directional shadows and a clear, cold quality of light that Pissarro exploited to differentiate the warm stone of the statue and bridge from the cold atmosphere. This painting shows his ability to integrate historical monuments into Impressionist atmospheric study.

The equestrian statue is rendered in warm ochre and gold, caught by morning sunlight against a cool grey sky. Strong tonal contrast between lit and shadowed surfaces gives the work compositional clarity. Pissarro uses varied mark-making: precise touches for the statue's form, broader strokes for sky and bridge.