Author(s):
grandville (nancy, 15–09–1803 - vanves, 17–03–1847), designer
bulla, joseph, editor
langlumé, pierre (poitiers, 1790 - 1830), designer-lithographer
other title: the metamorphoses of the day (title of the series)
production date: between 1828 and 1829
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: lithography
dimensions - artwork:
height: 25. 7cm
width: 34cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 16. 4cm
width: 16. 7cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 50cm
width: 40cm
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
signature - j. Granville
letter - the metamorphoses of the day n°9. Letter - i'm not there for anyone
inscription - lith. By langlumé
registration - in paris at bulla, rue st jacques n°38, and at martinet, rue du coq. Iconographic description:
a man and a woman with animal heads are in a room with a fireplace, a work table and a screen. In the center of the scene, a man with the head of a bear sits at his work table and wears a comfortable outfit with slippers. On his work table are two works: “les douceurs de la solitude” and “le misantrope [sic]”. To the right of the stage, an elderly servant with a bird's head is dressed in an apron and a bonnet and wears prescription glasses. She holds a coat in her right arm and a broom and boots in her left hand. It seems to announce the visit of someone to the solitary bear who does not want to see anyone. Extract from métamorphoses du jour (editions gustave havard libraire, paris, 1854): "if a man distances himself from the world, if he wants to live alone, if, summarizing in himself the unkind qualities of timon and diogenes, he has only harsh words and bad-humoured quips for others, why do we say of him that is it a bear? what has earned this quadruped the honors of an assimilation which attacks its character, and which, although lost in the mists of time, is certainly no more flattering?
themes / subjects / places represented:
bear, bird, servant, solitude, fireplace
mode of acquisition: purchase
date of acquisition: 21–02–1986
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal 925(j). Date: Entre 1828 et 1829.
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