Le rat philosophe. G.8740 (1 of 2), between 1841 and 1842

Author(s): grandville (nancy, 15–09–1803 - vanves, 17–03–1847), designer andrew, john (1815 - c. 1870 — 1875), engraver best, jean (toulouse, in 1808 - around 1879), engraver leloir, isidore (in 1806 - in 1881), engraver hetzel, pierre-jules (chartres, 15–01–1814 - monte-carlo, 17–03–1886), publisher paulin, editor other title: scenes from the private and public lives of animals (title of the whole) production date: between 1841 and 1842 dating in century: 19th century type(s) of object(s): print, graphic arts name(s): print dimensions - artwork: height: 27. 9cm width: 39. 7cm description: this print belongs to a set made up of plates taken from the albums of scenes from the private and public lives of animals: carg008725 to carg008740, carg008748, carg008753, carg022188 to carg022223. Marks, inscriptions, hallmarks: letter - on the front, inscriptions printed in black ink. Under the left vignette: "he tells us: do not cry, act! perhaps a few steps from here, the enemy watches in the shadows"; under the one on the right: “here’s one that takes the mending nicely!”. Signature of the authors, under the left thumbnail, on the left: "jj grandville" and next to: "andrew best & leloir"; and under the one on the right, in the middle: "andrew. Best & leloir. " and on the right: "jj. Grand [. . . ]" (signature partially illegible). \ impression stamp - on the front, at the bottom between the two vignettes, stamp in black ink: "carnavalet" (cf. Lugt suppl. 432d). \ inscription in ink inscription - on the front, lower right, inscribed on the reverse, in pencil: "1607 to 1610" \ inscription in pencil inscription concerning the author - on the back, lower left, in pencil: "grandville". \ pencil inscription inventory number - on the reverse, lower left, handwritten in black ink: "g. 8740". \ inscription in ink iconographic description: scenes from the private and public lives of animals. The philosopher rat. By e. Lemoine. (left). Caricature. Two vignettes, animals mimicking men. On the left, a rat trapped in a cage urges his people to act. A cat is watching them. On the right, a mouse, mother of a family, fixes laundry in an interior. Titles of the two vignettes: "he tells us: don't cry, act! perhaps a few steps from here, the enemy watches in the shadows", "here is one who is nicely bitten by the repair!". Historical commentary: this print seems to be taken from one of the albums of the private and public life of animals drawn by grandville (1840-1842). The philosopher rat by e. Lemoine. It seems that the drawings in the first volume date from 1841 and those in the second volume from 1842 (see exhibition catalog "grandville original drawings", 1986-1987). Acquisition mode: unknown acquisition mode institution: carnavalet museum, history of paris inventory number: g. 8740. Date: between 1841 and 1842.