Roger Bontems, BAL2007.73, En 1828

Author(s): monnier, henry bonaventure (paris, 07–06–1799 - paris, 03–01–1877 — 3–6–1877), designer other title: songs of béranger (title of the series) production date: in 1828 dating in century: 19th century type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print name(s): print materials and techniques: laid paper, watercolor dimensions - artwork: height: 15. 2cm width: 22. 5cm dimensions - album: height: 15. 7cm width: 24cm description: colored engraving marks, inscriptions, hallmarks: title of the work - under the image: roger bontems inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: henry monnier author inscription - under the image on the right: lith. Rue n. D des victoires, 16. Iconographic description: in a comfortable room a potbellied bourgeois sits on a large armchair, one foot resting on a footstool. A woman in peasant costume sits on a chair near him. A small lunch table is set up, a carafe and glasses of wine are placed there. The walls are lined with frames and a four-poster bed occupies the back of the room. Illustration of the words of béranger's song "roger bontemps" of which here is an extract: "to the atrabilary people for example given, in a time of misery roger bontemps was born. Live obscurely as he pleases, taunt the malcontents; eh gay! that's the motto of big roger bontemps. [. . . ] lack of elite wine, sand those of the canton; prefer marguerite to the ladies of the grand ton; with joy and tenderness fill all his moments; eh gay! it's the wisdom of big roger bontemps. "béranger (1780-1857) was a prolific and extremely popular french singer to whom balzac refers in several of his novels. "this worthy gentleman particularly hated priests, he was part of this large herd of simpletons who subscribed to the constitutionnel, and was very concerned about the refusal of burials. He adored voltaire, although his preferences were for piron, vadé, collé. Naturally he admired béranger, whom he ingeniously called the high priest of lisette's religion. His daughters, madame camusot and madame protez, his two sons, would be, according to a popular expression, fallen from their height, if someone had explained to them what their father meant by: singing about mother godichon!” [excerpt from a beginning in life, by honoré de balzac] themes / subjects / places represented: literary scene, domestic interior, bed, meal, glass mode of acquisition: purchase institution: maison de balzac inventory number: bal2007. 73. Date: En 1828.