Un Mariage de convenance - a suitable match, BAL2013.27, En 1827

Author(s): monnier, henry bonaventure (paris, 07–06–1799 - paris, 03–01–1877 — 3–6–1877), designer senefelder et cie, designer-lithographer production date: in 1827 dating in century: 19th century type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print name(s): print materials and techniques: lithography, vellum paper, watercolor dimensions - artwork: height: 20. 5cm width: 28. 1cm description: colored print marks, inscriptions, hallmarks: title of the work - under the image: a marriage of convenience. / a suitable match author inscription - below the image on the right: senefelder lith. Inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: henry monnier iconographic description: seated in a large armchair, an opulent matron presents a frail young girl to an old man hunched over in his seat holding his cane in his hand. The old man is dressed in an old-fashioned way: stockings, buckled shoes, breeches, wig and frilled shirt. 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: "--louis, i continued in a consoling voice, it is up to you to make this marriage of convenience a marriage to which i can give full consent. What i am going to ask of you demands on your part a much more beautiful abnegation than the so-called servitude of your love when it is sincere. Can you rise to the level of friendship as i understand it? we only have one friend in life, and i want to be yours. Friendship is the bond of two similar souls, united by their strength, and nevertheless independent to carry life together. I do not forbid you from inspiring for you the love that you say you have for me; [excerpt from memoirs of two young brides, by honoré de balzac] themes / subjects / places represented: subject of society, morals, young girl, old man mode of acquisition: purchase institution: maison de balzac inventory number: bal2013. 27. Date: En 1827.