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: 27. 8cm
width: 21cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 13. 2cm
width: 9cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 40cm
width: 30cm
description:
plate 30 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. 30" 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 - below the image: your processes are clean!
iconographic description:
a man and a young woman sit face to face, their knees touching. The man leans towards his companion, she turns away, her fingers mishandling a white handkerchief. 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: "to monsieur le baron de canalis. "my dear poet, mademoiselle de la bastie is very beautiful, mongenod showed me that the father has eight million, i was thinking of marrying you to her, i am therefore very angry with you for your lack of confidence. If you had the intention of marrying la brière by going to le havre, i do not understand why you didn't tell me before leaving there and why stay for two weeks without writing to a friend who gets worried as easily as i do? your letter came a little late, i had already seen our banker, you're a child, melchior, it's not good. The duke himself is outraged by your actions, he finds you not a gentleman, which calls into question the honor of your mother. [excerpt from modeste mignon, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, grisette, chair
mode of acquisition: purchase
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal 98-103. Date: 1827.
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