Author(s):
grandville (nancy, 15–09–1803 - vanves, 17–03–1847), designer
bulla, joseph, editor
langlumé, pierre (poitiers, 1790 - 1830), designer-lithographer
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, paper, gouache
dimensions - artwork:
height: 27. 4cm
width: 35. 6cm
dimensions - image:
height: 17. 3cm
width: 22. 5cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 50cm
width: 40cm
description:
printed engraving enhanced with gouache. Marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
signature - j. Granville
registration - the metamorphoses of the day n°17
letter - drawing academy
inscription - lith. By langlumé
registration - at bulla, rue st jacques n°38, and at martinet, rue du coq. Iconographic description:
view of a drawing class with a live model. The model has the body of a woman draped in a short white fabric and the head of a monkey. Standing on a platform, she has various hats and clothes at her feet. The five drawing and painting students sit on straw stools or stand in front of their easel. They also have human bodies and are dressed in crude jackets like the artists of the time, but they also have primate heads. A wood stove, in the background, is fueled by a young boy, this time with the head of a mouse. All the animals are chosen to represent specific human character traits. Extract from métamorphoses du jour (published by gustave havard libraire, paris, 1854): "he who copies is a monkey; [. . . ] this is why grandville, [has] embodied in the monkeys the palette-carrying race, all those who make it their business to animate the canvas [. . . ] an academy [. . . ] cannot do without a rapin. There is therefore a rapin in this academy, a small rat with ears made of ribbon knots, with a barbed snout, who stuffs the stove with logs, and sometimes revives them with the sketches of these gentlemen. [. . . ] the monkey model has neither modesty nor family feeling; he only lives for art, and the world is, in his opinion, only an immense museum. "
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, customs, study and teaching, designer, model, monkey, mouse, easel
mode of acquisition: purchase
date of acquisition: 21–02–1986
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal 925(u). Date: Entre 1828 et 1829.
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