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: 28. 2cm
width: 19. 1cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 12. 7cm
width: 8cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 40cm
width: 30cm
description:
plate 41 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. 41" 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"
caption - under the image: edouard! i'm going to leave
iconographic description:
a couple is having fun. The man embraces his companion, she turns her face towards him, she is wearing a large hat trimmed with ribbons and veils. 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: "a man who has the privilege of flowing nimble things into the ear of a devotee, is in his eyes a charming man. If this exemplary lion had known the human heart better, he could without danger have allowed himself a few amours among the grisettes of besançon who looked at him like a king: his affairs would have progressed with the severe and prudish baroness. With philomène, this caton seemed spendthrift: he professed an elegant life, he showed her in perspective the brilliant role of a fashionable woman in paris, where he would go as a deputy. These learned maneuvers were crowned with complete success. [excerpt from albert savarus, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, grisette, couple
mode of acquisition: purchase
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal 98-114. Date: 1827.
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