Author(s):
monnier, henry bonaventure (paris, 07–06–1799 - paris, 03–01–1877 — 3–6–1877), designer
bernard, charles louis (paris, 29–06–1769 - paris, 11–09–1848), designer-lithographer
giraldon and bovinet, editor
other title: recreation (series title)
dating in century: 19th century
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: vellum paper, watercolor, lithography
dimensions - artwork:
height: 23cm
width: 31. 3cm
dimensions - image:
height: 14cm
width: 16cm
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: recreations
number - above the image on the right: pl. 24
legend - in the image, at the bottom: monsieur finishes his philosophy
inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: henry monnier. Under the image on the right: lith de bernard
registration concerning the test - under the image: published by giraldon bovinet, passage vivienne, n°26 in paris. & at london frith street. Soho square no. 54. Iconographic description:
a teenager dressed as a bourgeois (fobster watch sticking out of his pocket and his top hat in hand) stands straight in front of his teacher, an old man wearing a powdered wig who, leaning towards him with his index finger outstretched, questions him. Behind them, a matron, her hands clasped fervently, observes the scene. 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: "-- let's see, he said to himself while pierrotin's cuckoo came down from the chapel to rush across the saint-denis plain, will i pass myself off as etienne or béranger? no, these commies are people who don't know either one. Carbonaro? the devil! i could get caught. If i was one of marshal ney's sons? oh! could twist them! no, the scruff with the disheveled hair looks to me like he's been dragging his gaiters to the cours de la sorbonne. Why didn't i think of making them go sooner? i imitate the english so well, i would have posed as lord byron, traveling incognito. Sacristi! i missed my shot. " [excerpt from a beginning in life, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, teacher - professor
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal91. 66. Date: Unknown.
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