Author(s):
grandville (nancy, 15–09–1803 - vanves, 17–03–1847), designer
other title: the metamorphoses of the day (title of the series)
production date: between 1828 and 1829
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: lithography
dimensions - artwork:
height: 27. 4cm
width: 36cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 19cm
width: 18. 3cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 50cm
width: 40cm
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
signature - j. Granville
inscription - lith. By langlumé
registration - in paris at bulla, rue st jacques n°38, and at martinet, rue du coq. Registration - metamorphoses of the day n°13
letter - a kidnapping or a cunning accomplice
iconographic description:
two women and three men with animal heads participate in the kidnapping of a young woman. In the center of the scene, a man with the head of a fox stands on a ladder placed between the street and the first floor window of a boarding school for girls. The fox helps a young girl with a hen's head to go down the ladder. Behind this young girl, another young girl with a hen's head is waiting for her turn to go down. To the left of the stage, a man with the head of a monkey holds the ladder in one hand and two women's hat boxes in the other. This kidnapping scene takes place before the eyes of the dog-headed doorman who counts the money paid by the monkey and the fox in exchange for his complicity. Excerpt from métamorphoses du jour (editions gustave havard libraire, paris, 1854): "the monkey valet: well! here we are at the last act of the comedy. My good friend arthur is a fool, and provided that the beauty has a grain of wit, she will not take long to get away it's that devil of a uniform who turned his head but the gallant will eventually show up in his dressing gown. The main thing was to get our young dove out of his nest. Arthur was willing to take the trouble, and, my goodness, it's him who runs the great risk of paying the price. Father, mother, brothers, cousins, and the rest, everything will fall on his hands. Escape this avalanche, if you can! pray a lot to agree to assist arthur in his enterprise, i will reap the fruits of it, please god i will be the comforter, in bad days, because the honeymoon will be short. And when we know that the supposed valet of that night was a young man like any other, a thousand romantic ideas will run through the brain of the pretty fugitive. I will take care to build a touching little novel about my disguise. "
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, monkey, fox, hen, dog, young girl, ladder, window, boarding school - boarding school
mode of acquisition: purchase
date of acquisition: 21–02–1986
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal 925(p). Date: Entre 1828 et 1829.
Loading...
