It is not surprising that Robert Gibbings, artist to his fingertips, has chosen the Seine to follow Sweet Thames and his other river books. For the Seine comprises Pairs, the natural heart of the artistic world. But when he undertook to navigate that quiet-sounding river, little did he dream what was in store for him, and the dangerous nature of his nature in a flimsy little boat on the flooded upper reaches of the river will be missed by none of his readers, despite his light-hearted way of describing it.
While Coming Down the Seine is more serious in tone and mood at times than Mr. Gibbing’s last book, it loses none of its appeal because of that. The occasional pause for meditative comment or philosophic aside or discussion of the problems of painting takes nothing away from and, indeed, tends to enhance the characteristically gay tone. No opportunity for the humorous approach is ever missed, no opening for the apt story is lost, no ‘character’ ever fails to receive deft appreciation. From the source of the river to its mouth there can be few places worthy of note about which he does not find something interesting or amusing to relate, whether because of their historical importance, their artistic associations, their scenic peculiarities, or their local legends.
He has captured the ‘atmosphere’ of Paris with effortless ease—Paris of the bridges, the pavement cafes, the art schools, and the ateliers, Paris of Montparnasse, ‘cité de toutes les gloires, citée de tous les dédains.’ Recurring through the book are passages of descriptive writing of great beauty, rich in imagery. More than fifty wood engravings illuminate the pages.
