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Robert Macaire, business agent. Yesterday I made a mistake when I said that your business is in good shape. It’s detestable. The government owes you five hundred thousand francs, it’s true, but the debt hasn’t been recognized, there’s a forfeiture today, you won’t have a penny. However, come to think of it, there’s Mr. de St. Bertrand, a rich capitalist, an imbecile, sell him your interests for a hundred crowns, that’ll be a splendid deal… (aside) and not expensive.
Public Domain

Honoré Daumier

Robert Macaire, business agent. Yesterday I made a mistake when I said that your business is in good shape. It’s detestable. The government owes you five hundred thousand francs, it’s true, but the debt hasn’t been recognized, there’s a forfeiture today, you won’t have a penny. However, come to think of it, there’s Mr. de St. Bertrand, a rich capitalist, an imbecile, sell him your interests for a hundred crowns, that’ll be a splendid deal… (aside) and not expensive.

1836

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Robert Macaire, business agent. Yesterday I made a mistake when I said that your business is in good shape. It’s detestable. The government owes you five hundred thousand francs, it’s true, but the debt hasn’t been recognized, there’s a forfeiture today, you won’t have a penny. However, come to think of it, there’s Mr. de St. Bertrand, a rich capitalist, an imbecile, sell him your interests for a hundred crowns, that’ll be a splendid deal… (aside) and not expensive.

Honoré Daumier

Robert Macaire, business agent. Yesterday I made a mistake when I said that your business is in good shape. It’s detestable. The government owes you five hundred thousand francs, it’s true, but the debt hasn’t been recognized, there’s a forfeiture today, you won’t have a penny. However, come to think of it, there’s Mr. de St. Bertrand, a rich capitalist, an imbecile, sell him your interests for a hundred crowns, that’ll be a splendid deal… (aside) and not expensive.

Honoré Daumier

Robert Macaire, business agent. Yesterday I made a mistake when I said that your business is in good shape. It’s detestable. The government owes you five hundred thousand francs, it’s true, but the debt hasn’t been recognized, there’s a forfeiture today, you won’t have a penny. However, come to think of it, there’s Mr. de St. Bertrand, a rich capitalist, an imbecile, sell him your interests for a hundred crowns, that’ll be a splendid deal… (aside) and not expensive.

1836

Physical Qualities Crayon lithograph with hand coloring, Sheet: 254 × 209 mm. (10 × 8 1/4 in.)
Portfolio/Series Plate 13 from the series "Caricaturana"
Credit Line Given in Memory of Joseph Katz by his Children
Object Number 1963.109.15

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 BUSINESS AGENT. - BY THE DEVIL! IT'S REALLY ADMIRABLE OF YOU TO BREAK YOUR BACK TO PAY OFF YOUR DEBTS, MY GOOD CHAP, WIPE THEM OUT AT ONCE! - BUT HOW? - GOOD HEAVENS! BRING ME YOUR BOOKS, I'LL PUT THEM IN ORDER, IT'S MY SPECIALTY, WE'LL SETTLE FOR A FEW LIABILITIES, A LARGE NUMBER OF ASSETS, WE'LL ASSEMBLE YOUR CREDITORS, WE'LL OFFER FIVE PERCENT TO BE PAID OVER TEN YEARS, YOU WON'T GIVE THEM ANYTHING DURING THE TEN YEARS, IN TEN Y
Honoré Daumier
Robert Macaire business agent. - By the devil! It's really admirable of you to break your back to pay off your debts, my good chap, wipe them out at once! - But how? - Good heavens! Bring me your books, I'll put them in order, it's my specialty, we'll settle for a few liabilities, a large number of assets, we'll assemble your creditors, we'll offer five percent to be paid over ten years, you won't give them anything during the ten years, in ten years' time you'll start again, your creditors will be dead, the debts forgotten and nobody will say a word about it.
1837
UN GUICHET DE THÉATRE.
Charles Maurand and Honoré Daumier
Un Guichet de théatre.
1862
ROBERT MACAIRE, BARRISTER. - MY DEAR BERTRAND, GIVE ME A HUNDRED CROWNS AND I'LL GET YOU ACQUITTED RIGHT AWAY. - I'VE NO MONEY. - ALL RIGHT, GIVE ME A HUNDRED FRANCS. - I HAVEN'T GOT A PENNY. - YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TEN FRANCS? - NOT A FARTHING. - THEN GIVE ME YOUR BOOTS, AND I'LL PLEAD EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES.
Honoré Daumier
Robert Macaire, barrister. - My dear Bertrand, give me a hundred crowns and I'll get you acquitted right away. - I've no money. - All right, give me a hundred francs. - I haven't got a penny. - You don't even have ten francs? - Not a farthing. - Then give me your boots, and I'll plead extenuating circumstances.
1836
CROQUADE DIVERS
Unknown Artist and Honoré Daumier
Croquade Divers
1840
PREPARING FOR THE BACCALAUREATE. - THERE ARE TWO WAYS IN WHICH YOU MIGHT PASS YOUR EXAMS: THE FIRST WAY IS TO LET SOMEONE ELSE TAKE YOUR PLACE; THE SECOND IS TO TAKE THEM YOURSELF. - I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THEM MYSELF. - VERY GOOD!... DO YOU KNOW GREEK? - NO. - LATIN? - NONE THE MORE. - EXCELLENT!... DO YOU KNOW YOUR MATH? - NOT AT ALL. - WHAT DO YOU KNOW THEN? - NOTHING. - BUT YOU'VE 200 FRANCS? - OF COURSE! - SPLENDID... YOU'LL BE PASSED NEXT T
Honoré Daumier
Preparing for the baccalaureate. - There are two ways in which you might pass your exams: the first way is to let someone else take your place; the second is to take them yourself. - I would like to take them myself. - Very good!... Do you know Greek? - No. - Latin? - None the more. - Excellent!... Do you know your Math? - Not at all. - What do you know then? - Nothing. - But you've 200 francs? - Of course! - Splendid... You'll be passed next Thursday. - You mean you're going to prepare me in eight days? - What do you think!!!!... It's true that I've taken on the responsibility for your success, but for teaching you... Oh no! Certainly not!!
1837
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
c. 1903
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
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
c. 1903
YES MADAME, I AM WITH ALL MY AVAILABLE MEANS DEVOUT TO OUR AUGUST PRINCE; ALL I NEED ARE SOME MISERABLE HUNDRED THOUSAND FRANCS TO ESTABLISH HIS ACCESSION TO THE THRONE. - AND WHAT ARE YOUR MEANS? - MY MEANS! I HAVE PLENTY OF THEM. I HAVE FRIENDS, NEWSPAPERS, AND IF THE ENTIRE MACAIRE FAMILY SUPPORTS HIM, NEVER A PRINCE HAD SUCH A HUGE ARMY AT HIS SERVICE.
Honoré Daumier
Yes Madame, I am with all my available means devout to our August Prince; all I need are some miserable hundred thousand francs to establish his accession to the throne. - And what are your means? - My means! I have plenty of them. I have friends, newspapers, and if the entire Macaire family supports him, never a prince had such a huge army at his service.
1841
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
n.d.
ROBERT MACAIRE, DOCTOR. FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, DO NOT TAKE THIS ILLNESS LIGHTLY! BELIEVE ME, YOU MUST DRINK A LOT OF WATER, RUB YOUR LEGS AND COME TO SEE ME OFTEN... IT WON'T RUIN YOU.... MY CONSULTATIONS ARE FREE OF CHARGE.... YOU JUST PAY ME 20 FRANCS FOR THE TWO BOTTLES. FOR 10 CENTS I WILL TAKE THE CONTAINER BACK.
Honoré Daumier
Robert Macaire, doctor. For heaven's sake, do not take this illness lightly! Believe me, you must drink a lot of water, rub your legs and come to see me often... it won't ruin you.... My consultations are free of charge.... You just pay me 20 Francs for the two bottles. For 10 cents I will take the container back.
1836