Mme Victor Hugo tenant son fils Charles sur ses genoux - étude pour « La Maman », 661(2), Achille Devéria, En 1827

Author(s): devéria, achille (paris, 06–02–1800 - paris, 23–12–1857), designer other title: mme victor hugo holding her daughter léopoldine on her knees (old title (expired)) production date: in 1827 dating in centuries: 2nd quarter of the 19th century type(s) of object(s): graphic arts name(s): drawing dimensions - artwork: height: 25. 5cm width: 20cm description: pencil drawing in fairly good condition, in a gray-blue mount with black fillet. Paper slightly yellowed and some pitting iconographic description: scene from family life representing madame victor hugo seated holding her son charles on her knees. Historical commentary: achille devéria created several portraits of madame hugo with a child on her lap. Tradition has often seen léopoldine in the child, through a retrospective overvaluation of her importance in the life of victor hugo. Now there are four of these portraits and three of them were published as engravings on dates following the birth of the poet's other children. It therefore seems more likely that a sort of intimate tradition was established over the years, of a portrait of the mother with the child after each birth. This drawing has sometimes been given as a portrait of madame hugo with léopoldine although the entry in the inventory register has been corrected to designate charles, born november 3, 1826. This sheet must be dated 1827, according to a second version, reappeared in 2021, bearing precisely the date 1827. Furthermore, this sheet was translated into a lithograph, with variations in the decoration of the background, published in october 1827, under the title "la maman", in the lithographic album of various subjects composed and lithographed by alle devéria, published by charles motte (announced by the "bibliographie de la france" on october 27, 1827, with a clerical error giving "mlle deveria" instead of "alle": "no. 959 -- lithographic album of various subjects composed and lithographed by miss [read alle] deveria, twelve boards price. 12-0 in paris, at motte). (see inv. 665. 1, 665. 2 and 665. 3). The drawing remained in the workshop of achille devéria and was acquired from one of his descendants. Person / character depicted: hugo, adèle (née foucher); hugo, charles (known as charles d'auverney, known as paul de la miltière) mode of acquisition: purchase date of acquisition: 1927 institution: maison de victor hugo - hauteville house inventory number: 661. Date: En 1827.