Author(s):
monnier, henry bonaventure (paris, 07–06–1799 - paris, 03–01–1877 — 3–6–1877), designer
delpech, françois seraphin (orléans, 1778 - 1825), designer-lithographer
other title: parisian morals (title of the series)
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: 26. 4cm
width: 35. 2cm
dimensions - image:
height: 17cm
width: 18cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 40cm
width: 30cm
description:
plate from the series les grisettes by henry monnier, 1829, in paris, from imp. Lithog. From delpech, quai voltaire n°3
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
inscription - above the line in the middle: "moeurs parisiennes" under the line on the left: "henry monnier" and on the right: "i. Lith. De delpech"
legend - under the image: les grisettes / walk in the countryside
iconographic description:
four young people are walking on a country lane. Elegant young men have umbrella, top hat and cane. The young women are dressed in pastel dresses decorated with ribbons and ruffles. In the background, rustic houses and horsemen can be seen. 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: "when lucien was walking with esther, europe and the hunter remained a hundred steps from them, like two of those infernal pages spoken of in the arabian nights, and which an enchanter gives to his protégés. Parisians, and especially parisian women, are unaware of the charms of a walk in the middle of the woods by a beautiful night. The silence, the effects of the moon, the solitude have the calming action of the baths. [extract from splendors and miseries of courtesans, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, countryside, walk, walker
mode of acquisition: purchase
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal 98-147. Unknown date
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