Reptiles & Amphibians · 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.
The print titled "La Ménagerie Impériale" is a satirical caricature featuring Émile Ollivier. It is part of a series composed of 31 hand-colored lithograph plates by the artist Hadol, published in Paris by Au Bureau des Annonces around 1870. The album, "LA MENAGERIE IMPÉRIALE," depicts various figures as animals, metaphorically representing those who have "devoured" France over the past 20 years, including during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871).
In this specific print, Émile Ollivier is depicted with his head attached to the body of a snake. The snake is coiled around a scroll, symbolizing cunning and deceit. The text at the top reads "ÉMILE OLLIVIER" and "N° 9," indicating this is the ninth in the series. Below the image, the caption "LE SERPENT" (The Serpent) is followed by "Bassesse - Duplicité" (Lowness - Duplicity), emphasizing Émile Ollivier's perceived moral baseness and deceitfulness.
Olivier Émile Ollivier (French: [emil ɔlivje]; 2 July 1825 – 20 August 1913) was a French statesman. Starting as an avid republican opposed to Emperor Napoleon III, he pushed the Emperor toward liberal reforms and in turn came increasingly into Napoleon's grip. He entered the cabinet and was the prime minister when Napoleon fell.
The album as a whole, titled "LA MENAGERIE IMPÉRIALE," is a caricatural representation of the royal family and significant politicians of the time, using animal imagery to critique their roles and actions. The plates were originally issued loose in contemporary boards with a mounted hand-colored lithographed title. The format is small quarto (Sm. 4to), and the edges are slightly worn and browned, typical for works of this age.
This print, along with the rest of the album, serves as a historical and political commentary, utilizing humor and satire to criticize the leadership during a turbulent period in France’s history.
