The Valentre Bridge, Cahors by Frank Brangwyn
The Valentre Bridge, Cahors
Frank Brangwyn
Title
The Valentre Bridge, Cahors
Artist
Year
1911
Technique
zinc plate etching
Image Size
21 3/16 x 31 13/16" platemark
Signature
pencil, lower right
Edition Size
numbered "9", from an edition of 25 proofs from the second state
Annotations
penciled number 9 in lower left
Reference
Gaunt 178
Paper
antique-white wove with J Green & Son 1940 watermark
State
published
Publisher
artist
Inventory ID
17346
Price
SOLD
Description
The Valentre Bridge, located in Cahors in the south of France, is sometimes considered the finest and most well-preserved bridge in Europe. In addition, it has become perhaps the most historically fabled of the many famous "Devil's Bridges." These bridges, most of them located in France and Switzerland, were built under such challenging conditions that the builders' efforts were later hailed as heroic. Legends and folk tales describe pacts made by passing travelers with the Devil in order to cross the precariously located bridges. Building of the Valentre Bridge began in 1308 and ended in 1378, with restoration by Paul Gout in 1879. Upon finishing the restoration, Gout had a devil's head carved into the top of the central tower as a reminder of the legend.