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. 7cm
width: 21cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 12. 4cm
width: 10. 3cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 40cm
width: 30cm
description:
plate 34 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. 34" 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 - under the image: the owner wants quiet people
iconographic description:
two seated women and a man standing behind them listen attentively and anxiously to a fourth figure who stands in front of them, leaning with one hand on the back of a chair and reading a letter. 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: "the location of the house, in a street whose name indicates the steep slope, provided, on this ground floor, a high enough elevation so that there was never any humidity. Monsieur d'espard had to rent his apartment for a very modest sum, the rents being inexpensive at the time he came in this district, in order to be at the center of the colleges and to supervise the education of his children. Moreover, the state in which he took up premises where everything was in need of repair had necessarily decided the owner to be very accommodating, so, without being accused of madness, he could have made some expenses to establish himself there properly. [excerpt from the prohibition, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
social subject, morals, chair, grisette, top hat, letter
mode of acquisition: purchase
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal 98-107. Date: 1827.
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