Saint Germain, Auxerre

George was an architect who designed many London houses in the Flemish Renaissance style, known as Pont Street Dutch. Like many Victorian architects who were well versed in historic styles of architecture, he found relaxation in sketching buildings on his holidays in Europe. This view depicts the Abbey of Saint-Germain d'Auxerre built in the 9th century beside a Romanesque bell tower on the left. It is seen from across the River Yonne. The composition recalls the picturesque views of medieval buildings by Prout and Boys of 50 years earlier.