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), designer-lithographer
giraldon and bovinet, editor
other title: recreation (series title)
dating in century: 19th century
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: vellum paper, watercolor, lithography
dimensions - artwork:
height: 20. 6cm
width: 28. 7cm
dimensions - image:
height: 14cm
width: 18cm
description:
colored print
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
title of the work - in the image, top: recreations
number - above the image on the right: no. 10. Legend - in the image, bottom: an artist's luncheon. Drama insurer. Inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: henry monnier under the image on the right: lith de bernard
registration concerning the test - under the image: published by giraldon bovinet, passage vivienne n°26 in paris - at london frith street soho square n°54. Iconographic description:
composition in two sketches. On the left: two artists and their model are seated. The table is made up of a stack of baskets and boards on which plates and bottles of wine are arranged. The two artists are dressed in blouses, one of them has a thick beard and a beret. Their model is a semi-naked young woman draped in fabrics. A canvas is placed on the ground. On the right: a man dressed as a rapin. 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 supper was served. Sarrasine and zambinella sat down without ceremony next to each other. During half of the feast, the artists kept some measure, and the sculptor was able to chat with the singer. He found in her wit, finesse; but she was surprisingly ignorant, and showed herself weak and superstitious. The delicacy of her organs was reproduced in her understanding. When vitagliani uncorked the first bottle of champagne, sarrasine read in her neighbor's eyes a rather lively fear of the small explosion produced by the release of the gas. The involuntary flinch of this feminine organization was interpreted by the loving artist as an indication of excessive sensitivity. [excerpt from sarrasine, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, meals, artist
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal91. 56. Date: Unknown.
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