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: 28. 8cm
width: 21cm
dimensions - image:
height: 13. 5cm
width: 10cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 40cm
width: 30cm
description:
plate 25 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. 25" 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: who is this for?
iconographic description:
a man sits nonchalantly, one of his feet resting on the seat of his chair, and holds an open book. He turns to a young woman, standing beside him, who caresses his cheek with the back of her hand. 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: "esther took the paper without the slightest emotion, she folded it, put it in her toilet. - you are very happy, monster of iniquity," she said, giving a little pat on nucingen's cheek, "to see me finally accepting something from you. I can no longer tell you your truths, because i share the fruit of what you call your work. It's not a gift, that, my poor boy, it's a restitution. Come on, don't look like a stock exchange. [splendors and miseries of courtesans, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
social subject, morals, grisette, book, chair
mode of acquisition: purchase
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal 98-98. Date: 1827.
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