Author(s):
monnier, henry bonaventure (paris, 07–06–1799 - paris, 03–01–1877 — 3–6–1877), designer
delpech, françois seraphin (orléans, 1778 - 1825), designer-lithographer
other title: yesterday & today (series title)
dating in century: 19th century
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: lithography, laid paper, watercolor
dimensions - artwork:
height: 22. 6cm
width: 29cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 15. 1cm
width: 14. 8cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 40cm
width: 30cm
description:
colored print
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
wet stamp - t. H. : monogram a m and 2 r next to each other?
title of the work - above the image: jadis
legend - under the image: a doctor
inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: henry monnier
registration concerning the test - under the image on the right: i. Lith de delpech
iconographic description:
two friends play cards in a richly furnished living room. One is wearing a cap, the other a wig. A matron, seated next to them, observes the players. In the background, a large screen and a golden frame. The games table is covered with a damascus tablecloth. Actor, playwright and designer, henry monnier helped illustrate la comédie humaine. His engravings of administrative morals, and especially his play scenes from bureaucratic life, clearly inspired balzac for his novel la femme supérieure, renamed les employés. The same references to the mores of their time often inspired the two artists in parallel on numerous subjects as we can see in the following extract: "the fly is a game which is played with five cards and with a flip. The flip determines the trump. At each move, the player is free to take the chances or to abstain. By abstaining, he only loses his stake, because, as long as there are no returns to the basket, each player bets a low sum. When playing, the player is required to make a trick which is paid in proportion to the stake. If there are five sous in the basket, the trick is worth one penny. The player who does not make a trick is placed on the fly: he then owes the whole stake, which increases the basket on the next move. Themes / subjects / places represented:
social subject, morals, card game, domestic interior
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal91. 109. Unknown date
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