Les hirondelles, BAL2007.54, En 1828

Author(s): monnier, henry bonaventure (paris, 07–06–1799 - paris, 03–01–1877 — 3–6–1877), designer other title: songs of béranger (title of the series) production date: in 1828 dating in century: 19th century type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print name(s): print materials and techniques: laid paper, watercolor dimensions - artwork: height: 15. 2cm width: 22. 5cm dimensions - album: height: 15. 7cm width: 24cm description: colored engraving marks, inscriptions, hallmarks: title of the work - under the image: the swallows inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: henry monnier author inscription - under the image on the right: lith. Rue nd des victoires, 16. Iconographic description: on a desolate shore, a man stands in prayer and watches the flight of a flock of birds in the distance. In the background, the silhouettes of bulbous buildings, intended to be exotic, stand out. Illustration of the words of béranger's song "les hirondelles" of which here is an extract: "captive on the shore of the moor, a warrior, bent under his irons, said: i see you again, birds enemies of winter. Swallows, whom hope follows to these burning climates, without doubt you are leaving france: of my country do you not speak to me?" béranger (1780-1857) is a french singer-songwriter prolific and extremely popular to whom balzac refers in several of his novels. "this worthy gentleman particularly hated priests, he was part of this large herd of simpletons who subscribed to the constitutionnel, and was very concerned about the refusal of burials. He adored voltaire, although his preferences were for piron, vadé, collé. Naturally he admired béranger, whom he ingeniously called the high priest of lisette's religion. His daughters, madame camusot and madame protez, his two sons, would be, according to a popular expression, fallen from their height, if someone had explained to them what their father meant by: singing about mother godichon!” [excerpt from a beginning in life, by honoré de balzac] themes / subjects / places represented: literary scene, seaside, orientalism, bird, prayer mode of acquisition: purchase institution: maison de balzac inventory number: bal2007. 54. Date: En 1828.