Author(s):
monnier, henry bonaventure (paris, 07–06–1799 - paris, 03–01–1877 — 3–6–1877), designer
senefelder et cie, designer-lithographer
gihaut frères, publisher
dating in century: 19th century
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: lithography, vellum paper, watercolor
dimensions - artwork:
height: 35. 7cm
width: 26cm
dimensions - image:
height: 23. 6cm
width: 20. 4cm
description:
colored print
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
title of the work - under the image: a great lady
inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: henry monnier
author inscription - below the image on the right: lith de senefelder
registration concerning the proof - under the image, under the title: chez gihaut frères, editeurs. Iconographic description:
a couple walking down the street seen from behind. The man is dressed in a servant's livery, his arms are full of the shawl and the bag of the lady he is following. The latter, taller than her valet, is wearing a large hat and dressed in a dress whose very voluminous lamb sleeves give her the silhouette of a giant. 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 morals of their time often inspired the two artists in parallel on numerous subjects as we can see in the following extract: "these few words will remind you of your own follies. A great lady if ever there was one, and a widow without children (oh! it was all there!), my idol had locked herself away to mark my laundry herself with her hair, finally, she responded to my follies with other follies. So, how can we not believe in passion when it is guaranteed by madness? restoration, to which it owed a new chandelier, making it unsuitable in relation to its name. In my situation, i had the conceit not to entertain a suspicion. " [excerpt from another study of a woman, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, women's fashion, servant - servant
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal98. 62. Unknown date
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