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), designer-lithographer
giraldon and bovinet, editor
other title: recreation (series title)
dating in century: 19th century
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: vellum paper, watercolor, lithography
dimensions - artwork:
height: 23. 1cm
width: 31. 4cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 14. 2cm
width: 15. 7cm
description:
colored print
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
wet stamp - t. H. : monogram a m and 2 r next to each other?
title of the work - above the image: recreations
number - above the image, right: pl. 34
caption - in the image, at the bottom: the doormen in observation (new year's day)
inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: henry monnierunder the image on the right: litho de bernard
registration concerning the test - under the image: published by giraldon bovinet, passage vivienne, n°26. Iconographic description:
a couple of servants (doorkeepers or concierges), their brooms in their hands or under their arms, wait for an owner to have finished coming down the stairs of the building to ask for their gifts. The owner is strangely draped up to his nose in his coat and his top hat pulled down over his eyes. Is he trying to avoid giving a few pennies? 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: "a door with mustaches is one of the greatest guarantees of order and security for an owner. If delacroix had been able to see madame cibot proudly posed on her broom, he would certainly have made a bellone of her!" [excerpt from le cousin pons, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, janitor, broom
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: not provided. Date: Unknown.
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