Author(s):
monnier, henry bonaventure (paris, 07–06–1799 - paris, 03–01–1877 — 3–6–1877), designer
delpech, françois seraphin (orléans, 1778 - 1825), printer-lithographer
other title: les grisettes (title of the series)
date of production: 1829
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: vellum paper, watercolor, lithography
dimensions - artwork:
height: 26. 9cm
width: 35. 2cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 16. 3cm
width: 17. 5cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 40cm
width: 30cm
description:
plate from the series les grisettes by henry monnier, 1829, in paris, from imp. Lithog. From delpech, quai voltaire n°3
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
inscription - above the line in the middle: "grisettes" under the line on the left: "henry monnier" and on the right: "i. Lith. De delpech"
legend - under the image: invitation to lunch, we sprinkle the champagne
iconographic description:
a couple enjoys an informal meal in a bohemian interior. The two young people are seated around a small square table covered with a white tablecloth. Behind them, a large screen hides a bed. A hat box is lying on the ground. The young man brandishes a bottle of champagne, his campaign takes off his gloves. 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: "during the early days, when she had some hopes in which she kept no one secret, she had decided to wear corsets, to follow the fashions, and then obtained a moment of splendor during which the baron found her marriageable. Lisbeth was then the spicy brunette of the old french novel. Her piercing gaze, her olive complexion, her reedy figure could tempt a major on half pay; but she was content, she said with a laugh, with her own admiration. She ended up finding her life happy, after having stripped away the material worries, because she went to dinner every day in town, after having worked since sunrise. So she only had to provide for her lunch and her rent; sugar, coffee, wine, etc. " [excerpt from la cousine bette, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
social subject, morals, grisette, meals, wine, fruit
mode of acquisition: purchase
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal 98-150. Date: 1829.
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