Author(s):
grandville (nancy, 15–09–1803 - vanves, 17–03–1847), designer
attributed to alophe, marie-alexandre (adolphe marie alexandre menut, dit) (paris, 06–06–1812 - paris, 10–08–1883), designer-lithographer
becquet (printing) (28–02–1796), printer
aubert (printer, lithographer, editor), editor
other title: the political, moral, literary and scenic caricature (title of the whole)
production date: in 1832
type(s) of object(s): manuscripts, printed matter, binding
name(s): periodical illustration
materials and techniques: lithography
dimensions - artwork:
height: 35. 8cm
width: 51cm
dimensions - image:
height: 29. 8cm
width: 40cm
description:
ht plate published in the political, moral, literary and scenic caricature, volume 5 (5th drawing of the association)
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
inscription - title at bottom center: “haying // (july) the sun enters the sign of leo. – towards the end of this month we mow the monarchical meadows, we uproot scepters, crowns, tiaras, etc etc. // we cut the montans [amounts] of the stems that have borne as low as possible. – sow republican institutions, patriotism and freedoms. // (mathieu lansberg) »; indications: top to left: “5th drawing of the association. »
inscription - in the letter: “l. De becquet, rue childebert n°9. » [printer], “we subscribe to aubert, gallery véro dodat. » [editor]; in the image, bottom right, signature: “jj. Grandville. And [m]” [jean-jacques grandville, designer and menut-alophe, lithographer?]
iconographic description:
pl. N°2 of a series of 4 pl. , within pl. Monthly lithography, on the theme of agricultural work to the rhythm of the four seasons. The subject was proposed by mathieu laensberg. The pl. Is a summary of the political history of europe. It describes the actions of the different peoples constituting europe in the face of the monarchy. Each nation is personified by a man engaged in a stage of haymaking. The monarchy is embodied by the members of the governments, symbols such as crowns. . . , in miniature, present in the fodder ready to be mown. The frenchman, in the center of the composition, engages in mowing down members of the july government. In particular, we recognize louis-philippe, from behind, holding the “new // charter”. Other small characters are present as well as a scepter decorated with a fleur-de-lys at its end. Grasshoppers manage to escape from the fodder: these are “sinecures,” “pensions. ” two spiders with human heads also move away (we think we recognize madier de montjau for one). On the ground, the accessories of the french republican, which the man put down to work: a jacket, a jug of water, a stone bearing the inscription “juillet” (in reference to the revolutionary days of july 1830), a hat bearing the revolutionary cockade. The englishman on the right is resting, seated, working his scythe with a hammer (he is recognizable by a plate of “rosbeef” placed in front of him). In front of him, a small plant with three branches, each wearing a crown (we recognize here the metaphor of the three royalty of “ireland”, “scotland” and [?]), undoubtedly ready to be mowed down. On the contrary, the pole tries to mow down the representatives of the “domination // russian”. Behind him, two german figures are also mowing down (one of the figures about to be mowed down is holding a “constitu […] [constitution]”). On the other side, spain is preparing to mow down the representatives of the monarchy, holding crown, fleur-de-lis and cross of the “inquisition”. Next door, the papalins sharpen their scythes and drink. Not far from them is a fodder with a cross and a papal tiara (“power // temporal // and papal”). Then, in the background, greece is working on poorly cultivated ground (but there is hope for change, however). Finally, three russian peasants are sleeping and not engaged in mowing their fodder, made up of knouts, a crown, and two-headed eagles. At the center of the composition dominates the tutelary figure of freedom (the republic), represented in the form of a woman wearing a phrygian maid and draped in antique style (marianne): leaning on a scythe, she ensures that the work goes smoothly. The pl. Aims to image, through an agricultural metaphor, the progress of republican ideas in the main countries of europe, as well as the means implemented to impose these ideas in the face of the monarchy. Mode of acquisition: retrospective registration
date of acquisition: 20–02–2013
institution: maison de balzac. Date: En 1832.
Loading...
