Emblems & Satire · 19th century
€ 140
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
good, given age. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.
La Ménagerie Impériale: Le Musée des Empaillés
1. **Le Boa** (Prétention - Servilité)
2. **Le Rat d'Église** (Dévotion - Hypocrisie)
3. **Le Hibou** (Sagesse - Prudence)
4. **La Pie** (Bavardage - Curiosité)
5. **Le Chambellan** (Obéissance - Loyauté)
This caricature is part of a satirical album titled "La Ménagerie Impériale," created by the artist Hadol around 1870. The album features 31 hand-colored lithograph plates, each depicting various figures from the royal family and prominent politicians of the time. The illustrations merge the physical traits of the subjects with those of animals to symbolize their perceived characteristics or political actions. This particular print mocks different individuals by portraying them as stuffed animals in a museum, emphasizing traits such as pretentiousness, hypocrisy, prudence, curiosity, and loyalty.
The print depicts five caricatured figures, each represented as a different animal:
1. **Le Boa** (The Boa) - A person with a long, snake-like neck and head, resembling a boa constrictor. The head has exaggerated facial features, and the body of the snake is coiled around a pedestal.
2. **Le Rat d'Église** (The Church Rat) - A rat in a glass container, labeled as the "rat of the church." The rat has a bishop's mitre on top of the container, suggesting a religious or clerical figure.
3. **Le Hibou** (The Owl) - A figure with an owl's body and a human head, perched on a stand. The head has large, round eyes and a serious expression, symbolizing wisdom or prudence.
4. **La Pie** (The Magpie) - A person with a bird's body, resembling a magpie, known for its chattiness and curiosity. The bird is perched on a small pedestal, with human-like facial features.
5. **Le Chambellan** (The Chamberlain) - A figure with a dog's body and a human head, dressed in a uniform with a "5" on it. The dog's head is turned back towards a bag labeled "accessoires du cotillon," indicating loyalty and obedience.
Each figure is numbered and labeled with both their animal representation and associated traits. The overall theme is a satirical portrayal of various prominent figures, combining human and animal features to emphasize their characteristics in a humorous and critical manner.
The prominent figures depicted in this caricature print from "LA MENAGERIE IMPÉRIALE" are:
1. **Le Boa Jérôme** (The Boa) - Likely representing Jérôme Bonaparte, the youngest brother of Napoleon Bonaparte. The snake imagery suggests deceit or cunning behavior.
2. **Le Rat d'Église Sibour** (The Church Rat) - Likely representing Archbishop Sibour, a significant religious figure. The rat in a bishop's mitre might imply corruption or an underhanded nature within the church.
3. **Le Hibou Mocquard** (The Owl) - Likely representing Jean-François Mocquard, who was the chief of staff to Napoleon III. The owl might symbolize wisdom, vigilance, or nocturnal activity.
4. **La Pie Fould** (The Magpie) - Likely representing Achille Fould, a financier and politician. The magpie could symbolize talkativeness or being meddlesome.
5. **Le Chambellan Néro** (The Chamberlain) - Likely representing a court chamberlain named Néro. The dog imagery could suggest loyalty, servitude, or possibly subservience.
These caricatures combine human and animal features to create satirical representations, emphasizing perceived traits and behaviors of these historical figures.
