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: 28. 2cm
width: 19cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 13. 2cm
width: 8cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 40cm
width: 30cm
description:
plate 40 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. 40" 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: do you know your sophie's heart well?
iconographic description:
a couple is having fun. The man is leaning over his partner, his right hand placed on her shoulder, with his left hand he touches her lips. She looks him in the eyes, her hands fiddling with her long, colorful scarf. 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 duchess was for him the most naive, the most ingenuous of mistresses, and he made her the woman of his choice; he left very happy to have finally led her to give him so many tokens of love, that it seemed impossible to him not to be henceforth, for her, a secret husband whose choice was approved by god. With this thought, with the candor of those who feel all the obligations of love while savoring its pleasures, armand returned home slowly. [excerpt from the duchess of langeais, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, grisette
mode of acquisition: purchase
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal98-113. Date: 1827.
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