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), printer-lithographer
giraldon-bovinet, editor
other title: les grisettes (title of the series)
date of production: 1827
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: vellum paper, watercolor, lithography
dimensions - artwork:
height: 29. 3cm
width: 22cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 13. 8cm
width: 9. 5cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 40cm
width: 30cm
description:
plate 17 from the series "les grisettes" by henry monnier, paris, giraldon et bovinet, 1827
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
inscription - above the image on the left: "grisettes" and on the right: "pl. 17" under the image on the left: "henry monnier" and on the right: "lith. De bernard" under the letter in the middle: "published by giraldon bovinet, passage vivienne, n°26"
caption - under the image: we are too stupid when we love. Iconographic description:
a man and a young woman are each seated on a chair side by side. The young woman fiddles with a handkerchief in her lap. The man stands casually with his left leg crossed. 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 mores of their time often inspired the two artists in parallel on numerous subjects as we can see in the following extract: "seducers with small motives never understand great souls. - me, a widower for five years, continued crevel, speaking like a man who is going to tell a story, not wanting to remarry, in the interest of my daughter whom i idolize, not wanting to have any acquaintances at home either, although i had then a very pretty counter lady, i put, as they say, in her furniture a little worker of fifteen years, of miraculous beauty and with whom, i admit, i fell in love to the point of losing my mind. Also, madame, i asked my own aunt, whom i brought from my country (my mother's sister!) to live with this charming creature and to watch over her so that she remained as wise as possible in this situation, how should i put it? chocnoso. No, illicit!” [excerpt from la cousine bette, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, grisette
mode of acquisition: purchase
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal 98-90. Date: 1827.
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