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: 30. 6 cm
width: 22cm
dimensions - image:
height: 13cm
width: 10. 5cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 40cm
width: 30cm
description:
plate 19 from the series "les grisettes" by henry monnier, paris, giraldon and bovinet, 1827
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
inscription - above the image on the left: "grisettes" and on the right: "pl. 19" 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"
legend - under the image: you did not sleep at aglaé's
iconographic description:
a little chubby lady grabs a young woman's wrist and, pointing her accusing finger, lectures her. The young woman, still wearing her outdoor cape, looks down. 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: " -- there is no reason that could make birotteau leave my bed! he has eaten so much veal that perhaps he is indisposed? but if he was ill he would have woken me up. In the nineteen years that we have been sleeping together in this bed, in this same house, he has never left his place without telling me to say, poor sheep! he only went to bed to spend the night at the guardhouse. Did he go to bed this evening with me? but yes, my god, am i stupid! she cast her eyes on the bed, and saw her husband's nightcap which retained the almost conical shape of his head. [excerpt from history of the grandeur and decadence of césar birotteau, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, grisette
mode of acquisition: purchase
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal 98-92. Date: 1827.
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