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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).
Public Domain

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

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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).

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).

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

Physical Qualities Crayon lithograph with hand coloring, Sheet: 258 × 212 mm. (10 3/16 × 8 3/8 in.)
Portfolio/Series Plate 30 from the series "Caricaturana"
Credit Line Nelson and Juanita Greif Gutman Collection
Object Number 1963.313.35

Artist

Honoré Daumier

French, 1808-1879

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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. 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... (ASI
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
UN GUICHET DE THÉATRE.
Charles Maurand and Honoré Daumier
Un Guichet de théatre.
1862
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
CROQUADE DIVERS
Unknown Artist and Honoré Daumier
Croquade Divers
1840
ROBERT MACAIRE, SOLLICITOR. - WE'VE WON, MY DEAR FELLOW, WON ON EVERY COUNT! - AND ABOUT TIME TOO. A CASE WHICH HAS LASTED TEN YEARS AND HAS RUINED ME! - BETTER LATE THAN NEVER! - HOW MUCH DID I GET BACK IN THE END? - HERE YOU ARE: THE COURT AWARDED YOU 12'000 FR, WE TOTALLED 13'500 FR IN EXPENSES, YOU ONLY OWE ME 1'500 FR. - BUT THAT MEANS I LOSE 1'500 FR . - YES, BUT YOU'VE WON YOUR CASE.
Honoré Daumier
Robert Macaire, sollicitor. - We've won, my dear fellow, won on every count! - And about time too. A case which has lasted ten years and has ruined me! - Better late than never! - How much did I get back in the end? - Here you are: The court awarded you 12'000 Fr, we totalled 13'500 Fr in expenses, you only owe me 1'500 Fr. - But that means I lose 1'500 Fr . - Yes, but you've won your case.
1836
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
c. 1903
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
c. 1903
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
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
n.d.
MR. DE ROBERT MACAIRE, OWNER OF A RESTAURANT. - WE'LL DIDDLE THEM OUT OF THEIR MONEY! WE'LL SERVE THEM SOUP IN THEIR CARRIAGES, OUR TABLES WILL BE ON ALL BOUNDS. IT WILL RAIN ROASTED LARKS OVER PARIS... WE’LL... - HAVE YOU ALREADY REALIZED IN ON THIS FINE PROJECT? - WHAT A QUESTION! OF COURSE! OF COURSE! I'VE ALREADY REALIZED MY PROFIT FROM THE SHARES.
Honoré Daumier
Mr. de Robert Macaire, owner of a restaurant. - We'll diddle them out of their money! We'll serve them soup in their carriages, our tables will be on all bounds. It will rain roasted larks over Paris... We’ll... - Have you already realized in on this fine project? - What a question! Of course! Of course! I've already realized my profit from the shares.
1836