Grande Salle du Palais de Justice (The Great Hall in the Palace of Justice, Paris)

This is a very rare etching by Jacques Androuet Du Cerceau of the great hall in the Parisian Palace of Justice in its condition prior to the fire of 1601. The large medieval hall consists of two wide bays crowned by wood barrel vaults. The walls on either side of the hall, as well as the arcade in the center which separates the two bays, are lined with statues of the kings of France. A multitude of people is depicted in the space emphasizing the vast dimensions of the space.

Du Cerceau likely intended the print to be included in the third (unexecuted) volume of his 'Les Plus Excellents Bastiments de France', which he announced on several occassions, but never completed.

Only three other impressions of the print are known today at the Kunstbibliothek in Berlin, and the Bibliothèque Nationale and École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Because of its rarity Du Cerceau's etching was reproduced in two facscimile copies, one by Charles Meryon (also in the Museum’s collection), and one for H. Destailleur’s facsimile edition of 'Les Plus Excellents Bastiments de France par J.-A. Du Cerceau', published in Paris, 1868-1870.