Author(s):
monnier, henry bonaventure (paris, 07–06–1799 - paris, 03–01–1877 — 3–6–1877), designer
delpech, françois seraphin (orléans, 1778 - 1825), printer-lithographer
other title: moral and philosophical sketches (series title)
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: vellum paper, watercolor, lithography
dimensions - artwork:
height: 25. 6cm
width: 30. 3 cm
dimensions - image:
height: 14cm
width: 16. 7cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 40cm
width: 30cm
description:
plate from the moral and philosophical sketches series
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
inscription - under the line on the left: "henry monnier" and on the right: "i. Lith. De delpech"
caption - under the image: a great character/what you do is not badly imagined my dear
iconographic description:
in an artist's studio, a couple of amateurs and two clerks observe sketches. The artist, a palette in hand, leans on the armrest of an armchair. Paintings cover the walls, miscellaneous objects are placed on a shelf, a large screen occupies one of the walls. A large painting is placed on an easel. 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 customs of their time often inspired the two artists in parallel on numerous subjects as we can see in the following extract: "at that moment, the artist who was eating with this patient and resigned air which says so many things, recognized the step of a man who had had on his life the influence that these kinds of people have on that of almost all artists, of elias magus, a painting dealer, the usurer of the paintings. Indeed elias magus surprised the painter at the moment when, in this very clean studio, he was about to begin work. " [excerpt from pierre grassou, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, artist's studio, screen, painter's palette, easel
mode of acquisition: purchase
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal 98-159. Date: Unknown.
Loading...
