Scènes De La Vie Privée Et Publique Des Animaux…

GRANDVILLE, [Jean Ignace Isidore GÉRARD, called] [1803-1847] & [HETZEL, Pierre Jules] [1814-1886] Et Al. (Text).

Published by Paris: J.Hetzel Et Paulin, 1842., 1842

About this Item

2 Volumes. large 8vo. pp. 4 p.l., 386, [6]; 2 p.l., 390, [6]. with half-titles. 201 wood-engraved plates (incl 2 additional titles), numerous head & tailpieces, initials, & vignettes by Brévière & others after designs by Grandville. contemporary half chagrin (bit rubbed, spines faded, occasional light foxing first few leaves in each vol. more heavily affected). First Edition. "The moving force behind this book was its publisher P.-J. Hetzel, who himself contributed many chapters under the pseudonym of P.-J. Stahl…Through Grandville s animals, Hetzel and his colleagues offered a witty and telling commentary on contemporary politics and personalities. Bouchot described the result as the best satire on French manners during the middle of the century, recalling "the anger to which it gave rise, the outbursts of laughter it provoked and the lawsuits of which it ran the risk." These allusions pass largely unnoticed today, but Grandville s animals remain as amusing as ever, thanks to the wit and verve of his compositions. The types and situations he depicts are indeed "of every period and every country." "The final plate shows the artist at the zoo of the Jardin des Plantes. He is sketching the visiting creatures who in turn are peering at cages containing Hetzel, Balzac, Jules Janin, and other authors of the Scènes de la vie privée et publique des animaux. It should be noted that the engravings for this book are by Brévière, the one craftsman whose renderings of his work Grandville refused to criticize." (Ray) Carteret III 553. Ray, The Art Of The French Illustrated Book 1700 to 1914, 194 (citing incorrect number of plates).

Seller Inventory # elala1627

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Scènes De La Vie Privée Et Publique Des Animaux…
• Publisher: Paris: J.Hetzel Et Paulin, 1842.
• Publication Date: 1842
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Illustrated