Rue Principale de Reykivik ( Islande)

Title

Rue Principale de Reykivik ( Islande)

Description

Beautiful representation of the Main Street in Reykiavik.

ca. 1840

Artist

Lemercier / Levasseur (1838-1875)

Huge Parisian firm of lithographic printers founded by Joseph Rose Lemercier (1803-1887), who began as the foreman for Langlumé in 1825. Working on his own account from 1827, 1829-36 in partnership with Bénard association formed in 1837 according to IFF catalogue for Joseph Lemercier. The firm was still active in 1841.

Historical Description

According to the land register, Reykjavík was founded by Ingólfur Arnarson, one of the first settlers in Iceland. As is customary with the Vikings, he had settled where the pillars of his high seat thrown into the sea had been washed ashore. Archaeological excavations have now shown that in the 9th century - first traces point to the year 870 - Vikings from Norway and Celtic immigrants settled in this area. Skúli Magnússon, now known as the “father of the city”, who from 1749 worked as a governor based in Bessastaðir, is responsible for the upswing of the place. He ensured the settlement of the first industrial companies.