Author(s):
grandville (nancy, 15–09–1803 - vanves, 17–03–1847), designer
bulla, joseph, editor
other title: the metamorphoses of the day (title of the series)
production date: between 1828 and 1829
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: lithography
dimensions - artwork:
height: 26. 6cm
width: 35. 5cm
dimensions - image:
height: 16. 2cm
width: 21cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 50cm
width: 40cm
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
signature - j. Grandville del. Letter - the metamorphoses of the day n°59
letter - would you like to have lunch with us, mother piton?
registration - at bulla, rue st jacques n°38, and at martinet, rue du coq. Inscription - lith. By langlumé
iconographic description:
this macabre scene takes place in a workshop of an embalmer or medical student. Two undertakers are removing the entrails of a deceased person in great bloody detail. Beside them, a third worker sits on a crate preparing a sandwich, one of his feet resting on a skull. Bones pile up on the ground. These three practitioners are represented with raven heads. A peasant woman has just entered the workshop, a jug in her hand and a baguette under her arm, she turns away with repugnance from the table where the crows are working. She is represented with a parakeet's head. Extract from métamorphoses du jour (editions gustave havard libraire, paris, 1854): "lying on a table: a corpse, in which two of its tenants were rummaging, with the ardor that comes from the love of science, with aprons on their chests, scalpels in their beaks; and, while they were carrying out this butcher's task, the third, sitting on a trunk[. . . ] cut the bread for his lunch with the same instrument that had just been used in his anatomical experiments. "
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, parrot, crow, corpse
mode of acquisition: purchase
date of acquisition: 21–02–1986
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal925(bo). Date: Entre 1828 et 1829.
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