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), designer-lithographer
giraldon and bovinet, editor
other title: recreation (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: 23. 2cm
width: 31. 5cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 15cm
width: 15. 4cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 50cm
width: 40cm
description:
colored print
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
wet stamp - t. H. : a m and 2 r mirrored in an oval
title of the work - above the image: recreations
number - above the image on the right: pl. 28. Caption - in the image at the bottom: unpretentious evening outfits
inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: henry monnier under the image on the right: lith de bernard. Registration concerning the test - under the image: published by giraldon bovinet, passage vivienne, n°26
iconographic description:
a crowd of guests in evening wear rushes to, perhaps, enter a gala venue. The women wear ribbons, bonnets and egret hats. They are dressed in frilly dresses. 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: "the two maries did not go to the ball until the age of sixteen, and only four times a year, in a few chosen houses. They only left their mother's side equipped with instructions on the conduct to follow with their dancers, and so severe that they could only answer yes or no to their partners. The eye of the countess did not abandon her daughters and seemed to guess the words just from the movement of the lips. The poor little ones had impeccable ball gowns, muslin dresses reaching up to the chin, with an infinity of excessively rich ruffles, and long sleeves. Holding their compressed grace and their veiled beauties, this dress gave them a vague resemblance to egyptian sheaths; they were enraged when they saw themselves the object of gentle pity. What is the woman, however candid she may be, who does not wish to be envied?" [excerpt from une fille d'eve, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, women's fashion
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal91. 73. Date: Unknown.
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