The theme in this exceptionnal drawing is probably one of the artist's favorites, as it allowed him to represent both the mysterious and the strange : the burg. The work was executed as Victor Hugo was exiled in Jersey, where he lived from 1852 to 1855. Victor Hugo met writer and poet Delphine de Girardin in 1823 during a reception given by Charles Nodier. In 1853, Delphine de Girardin introduced Hugo to spiritualism. Profoundly influenced by this discovery, the artist will then on use premonitory dreams and invocations of the above for his creation process. Delphine de Girardin dies not long after the execution of this drawing, in June 1855.
We would like to thank Pierre Georgel for kindly confirming the authenticity of this work which will be included in the catalogue raisonné in preparation.