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No matter what one says, old things are always beautiful…. – Yes, but only in marble, my dear.
Public Domain

Honoré Daumier

No matter what one says, old things are always beautiful…. – Yes, but only in marble, my dear.

1850

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No matter what one says, old things are always beautiful…. – Yes, but only in marble, my dear.

Honoré Daumier

No matter what one says, old things are always beautiful…. – Yes, but only in marble, my dear.

Honoré Daumier

No matter what one says, old things are always beautiful…. – Yes, but only in marble, my dear.

1850

Physical Qualities Crayon lithograph, Sheet: 254 x 222 mm. (10 x 8 3/4 in.)
Portfolio/Series Plate 56 from the series "Tout ce qu'on voudra"
Credit Line Blanche Adler Memorial Fund
Object Number 1953.97
Jay Fisher, BMA, "Honore Daumier: Caricatures for Our Times," 1 September - 29 September, 1976; Circulated to Salisbury State College, 29 September - 27 October, 1976; Essex Community College, 27 October - 24 November, 1976; Loyola High School, 24 November - 22 December, 1976; Columbia, 28 December, 1976 - 18 January, 1977; Hagerstown Junior College, 18 January - 15 February, 1977; Morgan State University, 15 February - 8 March, 1977; Anne Arundel Community College, 8 March - 5 April, 1977; Washington College, 5 April - 3 May, 1977; U. Of MD. Eastern Shore, Downtown Gallery, 27 June - 29 July, 1977.

Artist

Honoré Daumier

French, 1808-1879

Meet Honoré Daumier
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BY SAME ARTIST
PRINTS, DRAWINGS & PHOTOGRAPHS
NADAR ELEVATING PHOTOGRAPHY TO ART
Honoré Daumier
Nadar Elevating Photography to Art
1862
ROBERT MACAIRE BEFORE HIS JUDGES. VERY WELL! YES, GENTLEMEN, I WAS RATHER UNFORTUNATE AT THE ASSIZE COURT... BUT MISFORTUNE IS ALWAYS RESPECTABLE!... MOREOVER, IT’S TRUE WHAT HAS BEEN SAID, I'VE A HABIT OF SUBTRACTING MONEY, IT'S EASIER TO EXCUSE ME THAN SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE IT'S HARDER FOR ME TO RESIST MY WEAKNESS... AS FOR THE REST, I AM ACCUSED OF SELLING LEAD FOR GOLD? TWENTY WITNESSES SWEAR TO IT. VERY WELL! I DENY IT FORTY TIMES AND SINCE T
Honoré Daumier
Robert Macaire before his judges. Very well! Yes, gentlemen, I was rather unfortunate at the Assize Court... but misfortune is always respectable!... moreover, it’s true what has been said, I've a habit of subtracting money, it's easier to excuse me than someone else because it's harder for me to resist my weakness... as for the rest, I am accused of selling lead for gold? Twenty witnesses swear to it. Very well! I deny it forty times and since two denials are worth an avowal it's clear that you cannot find me guilty. (after this brilliant improvisation Robert Macaire is condemned with a maximum sentence).
1837
UN GUICHET DE THÉATRE.
Charles Maurand and Honoré Daumier
Un Guichet de théatre.
1862
YES MY UNCLE, MY VIRTUOUS UNCLE, I WAS A SPENDTHRIFT, GAMBLER, SEDUCER, I HAD MANY FAULTS, IN A WORD I WAS FRIVOLOUS... BUT YOU'RE ILL, VERY ILL, THE DOCTORS HAVE ABANDONED YOU... I'VE COME TO AID YOU, TO FALL AT YOUR FEET, I'LL SWEAR... ANYTHING YOU LIKE... I'LL ONLY LEAVE YOU AT DEATH, MY KIND UNCLE, MY SO EXCELLENT UNCLE! LET'S EMBRACE AND PUT AN END TO IT. (MACAIRE, SOLE INHERITOR, HAS HIS DEAR UNCLE THROWN INTO A COMMON PIT).
Honoré Daumier
Yes my uncle, my virtuous uncle, I was a spendthrift, gambler, seducer, I had many faults, in a word I was frivolous... but you're ill, very ill, the doctors have abandoned you... I've come to aid you, to fall at your feet, I'll swear... anything you like... I'll only leave you at death, my kind uncle, my so excellent uncle! Let's embrace and put an end to it. (Macaire, sole inheritor, has his dear uncle thrown into a common pit).
1837
CROQUADE DIVERS
Unknown Artist and Honoré Daumier
Croquade Divers
1840
WELL YES, IT’S TRUE, THE DAUGHTER OF MME CHOPIN GOT MARRIED YESTERDAY WITH THE SON OF DURAND. I JUST TALKED TO THE YOUNG MAN AND FROM WHAT HE TOLD ME (IN FULL CONFIDENCE), SHE MUST HAVE HAD SOME STRANGE ONES BEFORE HIM…
Honoré Daumier
Well yes, it’s true, the daughter of Mme Chopin got married yesterday with the son of Durand. I just talked to the young man and from what he told me (in full confidence), she must have had some strange ones before him…
1840
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
c. 1903
A SCIENTIFIC CONSULTATION. - I AM SATISFIED.... I THINK THE POTATO DISEASE COMES FROM BOTRYTIS... - YES, THAT'S WHAT'S COMMONLY KNOWN AS A MUSHROOM (FUNGUS). - IF WE CALL IT A MUSHROOM LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD, NO ONE WILL BOTHER CALLING US SCIENTISTS!
Honoré Daumier
A scientific consultation. - I am satisfied.... I think the potato disease comes from Botrytis... - Yes, that's what's commonly known as a mushroom (fungus). - If we call it a mushroom like the rest of the world, no one will bother calling us scientists!
1845
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
c. 1903
EXPLOITATION OF LOVE. OH! MY DARLING. I CANNOT SAY HOW MUCH I ADMIRE, HOW MUCH I CARESS THE CHARMING PORTRAIT WHICH YOU SENT ME! YOU EVEN HAD IT EMBELLISHED WITH PRECIOUS STONES. WHAT FOLLY!! YOU MUSTN'T DO THINGS LIKE THAT. IT GRIEVES ME... AND THIS WATCH CHAIN. HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS! HOW RICHLY DECORATED!!... I'D LIKE TO OFFER YOU A NICE PRESENT IN RETURN, SOMETHING TO REMIND YOU OF OUR LOVE AND HAPPINESS... I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A LOCK OF MY HAIR
Honoré Daumier
Exploitation of love. Oh! My darling. I cannot say how much I admire, how much I caress the charming portrait which you sent me! You even had it embellished with precious stones. What folly!! You mustn't do things like that. It grieves me... And this watch chain. How beautiful it is! How richly decorated!!... I'd like to offer you a nice present in return, something to remind you of our love and happiness... I'd like to give you a lock of my hair...
1837
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
n.d.
THE ADOPTION. - WELL, REALLY! ROBERT, MY FRIEND, SO YOU ARE BECOMING A FAMILY MAN. YOU'RE CONSIDERING ADOPTION?... YOU WILL SOON CROWN THE MAIDENS AT THE VILLAGE FAIR... (ROBERT)- YES, I ADOPTED THIS CHILD. I WANT TO THRIVE IN THE JOYS OF FAMILY LIFE... (WORMSPIRE) - YOU WANT TO MARRY YOUR WARD... - YES, I WANT HER TO GET MARRIED. YES, GET HER MARRIED TO A RICH MAN, PREPARE FOR MY RETIREMENT. - PREPARE FOR YOUR RETIREMENT... GET ENOUGH MONEY
Honoré Daumier
The Adoption. - Well, really! Robert, my friend, so you are becoming a family man. You're considering adoption?... You will soon crown the maidens at the village fair... (Robert)- Yes, I adopted this child. I want to thrive in the joys of family life... (Wormspire) - You want to marry your ward... - Yes, I want her to get married. Yes, get her married to a rich man, prepare for my retirement. - Prepare for your retirement... get enough money for old age and win the Monthion prize... I know, I know!
1841