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), printer-lithographer
giraldon-bovinet, editor
other title: les grisettes (title of the series)
date of production: 1827
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: vellum paper, watercolor, lithography
dimensions - artwork:
height: 28. 8cm
width: 21cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 13. 4cm
width: 9cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 40cm
width: 30cm
description:
plate 27 from the series “les grisettes” by henry monnier, paris, giraldon et bovinet, 1827
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
inscription - above the image on the left: "grisettes" and on the right: "pl. 27" under the image on the left: "henry monnier" and on the right: "lith. De bernard" under the letter in the middle: "published by giraldon bovinet, passage vivienne, n°26"
caption - under the image: so trust in men
iconographic description:
a couple is standing. The man holding an umbrella and wearing a top hat ostensibly turns his back on his young companion, who while she puts a white handkerchief to her lips, remains with her gaze fixed on the back of her neck. 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 morals of their time often inspired the two artists in parallel on numerous subjects as we can see in the following extract: "seated like a duchess, he presented his back to the corner of his dressing room, and impertinence stole half of the scene from the stranger, seeming to despise her, to even ignore that a pretty woman was behind him. The neighbor copied valentin's posture with precision. She had rested her elbow on the edge of the box, and turned her head in three quarters, looking at the singers, as if she were standing in front of a painter. These two people looked like two estranged lovers who sulk, turn their backs and go to kiss at the first word of love. [excerpt from la peau de chagrin, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, grisette, umbrella
mode of acquisition: purchase
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal 98-100. Date: 1827.
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