Author(s):
monnier, henry bonaventure (paris, 07–06–1799 - paris, 03–01–1877 — 3–6–1877), designer-lithographer
delpech, françois seraphin (orléans, 1778 - 1825), printer
other title: yesterday & today (series title)
dating in century: 19th century
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: lithography, watercolor, laid paper
dimensions - artwork:
height: 23. 2cm
width: 28. 9cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 15. 5cm
width: 15. 3cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 40cm
width: 30cm
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: jadis
legend - under the image: a walk
inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: henry monnier
inscription concerning the test - under the image on the right: i. Lith de delpech
iconographic description:
scene using an ancien régime aesthetic (wig, lackey, silk stockings and ponytails) where we see a noble lady standing in a sedan chair elegantly decorated with golden rococo motifs. An abbot kisses the hand that the lady holds out to him. The lackeys carrying the chair are in red coats. In the background, elegant passers-by stroll in a wooded park with a large gate topped with a coat of arms. 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: "anchise brought back from a coach rental company a magnificent coupe behind which there was a lackey. At the moment when palferine heard the sound of the coach, he had skillfully brought the conversation to the functions of this gentleman, whom he has since called the man of misery without deviation, he had inquired about his work and his treatment. -- do they give you a carriage to run around town like that? -- oh, no,' he replied. [excerpt from a prince of bohemia, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, sedan chair, wig, louis xv style
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal91. 113. Date: Unknown.
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