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: watercolor, vellum paper, lithography
dimensions - artwork:
height: 26. 8cm
width: 35. 1cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 18. 2cm
width: 19. 2cm
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: "les grisettes" under the line on the left: "henry monnier" and on the right: "i. Lith. De delpech"
legend - under the image: visit of regulars, general conversations
iconographic description:
six people are gathered in a bourgeois living room around a round table. Four of them are seated. A young woman is sewing. Another is standing to the left of the image. A man, also standing, leans on the back of the sewing woman's chair. A large wardrobe occupies the right part of the room, a chest of drawers the left part, two frames hang on the wall. 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: "the women of the town accused her of loving monsieur de grandville, who moreover paid her assiduous courtship, and to whom véronique opposed the barriers of pious resistance. The substitute professed for her one of those respectful admirations in which the regulars of this salon were not mistaken. The priests and intelligent people guessed well that this affection, amorous in the young magistrate, did not go beyond the limits permitted in madame graslin. " [excerpt from the village priest, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, grisette, domestic interior, sewing and needlework
mode of acquisition: purchase
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal 98-149. Date: 1829.
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