La Couronne retrouvée, BAL2007.35, En 1828

Author(s): monnier, henry bonaventure (paris, 07–06–1799 - paris, 03–01–1877 — 3–6–1877), designer gérard (designer), designer-lithographer other title: songs of béranger (title of the series) production date: in 1828 dating in century: 19th century type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print name(s): print materials and techniques: laid paper, watercolor dimensions - artwork: height: 15. 2cm width: 22. 5cm dimensions - album: height: 15. 7cm width: 24cm description: colored engraving marks, inscriptions, hallmarks: title of the work - under the image: the crown found inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: henry monnier author inscription - under the image on the right: lith. Gérard, joinville. Iconographic description: an old man, sitting in an armchair, has just opened several old cardboard boxes lying on the ground. He holds a wreath of flowers in his hands. Illustration of the words of béranger's song "the crown found" of which here is an extract: "this crown, so withered, was also beautiful the day i obtained it. What soul is so dried up, to be without tears for its extinct loves? mine abandons itself to long regrets. Of my unique and vain shred of happiness, ah! what do you not have, pale crown, dried on my tomb!" béranger (1780-1857) was a prolific and extremely popular french singer-songwriter whom balzac refers to in several of his novels. "this worthy gentleman particularly hated priests, he was part of this large herd of simpletons who subscribed to the constitutionnel, and was very concerned about the refusal of burials. He adored voltaire, although his preferences were for piron, vadé, collé. Naturally he admired béranger, whom he ingeniously called the high priest of lisette's religion. His daughters, madame camusot and madame protez, his two sons, would be, according to a popular expression, fallen from their height, if someone had explained to them what their father meant by: singing about mother godichon!” [excerpt from a beginning in life, by honoré de balzac] themes / subjects / places represented: literary scene, domestic interior, flower wreath, old man mode of acquisition: purchase institution: maison de balzac inventory number: bal2007. 35. Date: En 1828.