Author(s):
monnier, henry bonaventure (paris, 07–06–1799 - paris, 03–01–1877 — 3–6–1877), designer
delpech, françois seraphin (orléans, 1778 - 1825), designer-lithographer
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: vellum paper, watercolor, lithography
dimensions - artwork:
height: 22. 8cm
width: 28. 9cm
dimensions - image:
height: 16. 3cm
width: 15. 8cm
description:
colored print
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
wet stamp - t. H. (back): monogram a m and 2 r next to each other?
title of the work - above the image: jadis
legend - under the image: les banqueroutiers. Inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: henry monnier under the image on the right: i. Lith de delpech
iconographic description:
a pillory stands in an ancien régime town square. Men are held in chains while a crowd of onlookers watch them. We recognize a soldier, at the bottom of the image, by his uniform. 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: "-- i would like, said the perfumer, a court of irremovable judges with a public prosecutor judging on criminal matters. After an investigation, during which a judge would immediately fulfill the current functions of the agents, trustees and judge-commissioner, the merchant would be declared rehabilitable bankrupt or bankrupt. Rehabilitated bankrupt, he would be required to do everything pay; and his rights would be acquired from creditors, and he would be banished from the kingdom. " [excerpt from history of the grandeur and decadence of césar birotteau, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, judgment, crowd, torment
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal91. 101. Unknown date
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