Author(s):
grandville (nancy, 15–09–1803 - vanves, 17–03–1847), designer
bulla, joseph, editor
langlumé, pierre (poitiers, 1790 - 1830), designer-lithographer
other title: the metamorphoses of the day (title of the series)
production date: between 1828 and 1829
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: lithography
dimensions - artwork:
height: 27cm
width: 37. 9cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 16. 2cm
width: 21cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 50cm
width: 40cm
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
signature - j. Grandville
letter - the metamorphoses of the day n°32
letter - i already told you to examine the world. . . You see clearly that they are artists
inscription - lith. By langlumé
registration - at bulla, rue st jacques n°38 and at martinet rue du coq
iconographic description:
this image depicts a scene of begging in the street. All the protagonists have animal heads. On the left, a poor violinist kneels, his mole-like face suggests he is blind. A young boy in rags and bare feet gives alms, he has the face of a street dog. He hands his bowl to three young people carrying their violin case, their canvas and their drawing board or even their book and skull on which to meditate. Musician, painter and poet, they are penniless artists. They are represented with rats' heads. Extract from métamorphoses du jour (editions gustave havard libraire, paris, 1854): "these are three rats, my good poodle, three rats, beggars like your master; the hope of art and science, and as such perhaps called to great fame in the future, but for the quarter of an hour having neither penny nor mesh, and living on air and beautiful dreams like true artists that they are. [. . . ] of the workshop rat, the orchestra rat and the amphitheater rat, the most threadbare, the most miserable of all rats"
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, rat, dog, beggar, musician, artist, poverty - misery
mode of acquisition: purchase
date of acquisition: 21–02–1986
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal925(ao). Date: Entre 1828 et 1829.
Loading...
