Un chanteur de romances, BAL98-64k, Henry Monnier, 1825

Author(s): monnier, henry bonaventure (paris, 07–06–1799 - paris, 03–01–1877 — 3–6–1877), designer villain, françois (buire-au-bois, in 1790 - in 1852), designer-lithographer gihaut frères, publisher other title: general exploitation of the fashions and ridiculousness of paris and london (series title) production date: 1825 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: 34. 1cm width: 23. 3cm dimensions - image: height: 21. 4cm width: 14cm description: colored print marks, inscriptions, hallmarks: number - above the image on the right: no. 10 legend - under the image: a singer of romances. Inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: h. Monnier author inscription - under the image on the right: lith. De villain, rue de sèvres, 23. Registration concerning the proof - under the image on the right: chez gihaut frères, publishers. Iconographic description: a man in a suit, cane and hat in hand, poses elegantly. His abundant curly hair and his sideburns are the adornment of the renowned musician. 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: "monsieur du châtelet possessed all the inabilities required by his position. Well made, pretty man, good dancer, learned billiard player, skilled in all exercises, mediocre social actor, singer of romances, applauder of witticisms, ready for anything, flexible, envious, he knew and ignored everything. Ignorant in music, he accompanied on the piano as best he could a woman who wanted to sing out of complacency a romance learned with a thousand efforts during a month. " [lost illusions, by honoré de balzac] themes / subjects / places represented: subject of society, morals, singer - lyric artist institution: maison de balzac inventory number: bal98-64k. Date: 1825.