St. Cirq La Popie - Constant Duval

In this breathtaking 1914 travel poster by Constant Duval, the hilltop village of St. Cirq La Popie perches dramatically atop a sheer limestone cliff, overlooking the winding Lot River below. Bathed in golden light, the ochre-hued homes and the Romanesque church crown the cliff with a sense of timeless authority. The view unfurls into the distance, where cypress-lined riverbanks and glowing orange escarpments lead the eye through a fertile and mystical valley — the Vallée du Lot.
Commissioned by the Chemin de Fer d’Orléans to promote travel on the Cahors Capdenac rail line, this poster offered a glimpse into one of France’s most scenic and storied regions. The village of St. Cirq La Popie, now officially listed among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, was beloved by poets, painters, and later travelers for its preserved medieval character and dramatic geography. In the early 20th century, it was still a quiet secret — made accessible by train and romanticized by imagery such as Duval’s.
Le’on Constant Duval (1877–1956), a prolific French poster artist and lithographer, was known for his sweeping landscapes and subtle gradients. In contrast to the bold geometry of Art Deco contemporaries like Roger Broders, Duval’s style leans toward softness and romanticism — capturing not just the structure of a place, but its atmosphere.Here, the reflection of cliffs in the calm green water, the layered planes of light and shadow, and the soaring verticality of the scene communicate not just a place, but a sublime experience of nature and history in harmony.
This is an Original Vintage Poster; it is not a reproduction. It is conservation mounted, linen backed, and in very good condition. We guarantee the authenticity of all our posters.