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Be a mason then, if that is your talent!
Public Domain

Nicolas-Toussaint Charlet and Charles Etienne Pierre Motte

Be a mason then, if that is your talent!

1820-1822

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Be a mason then, if that is your talent!

Nicolas-Toussaint Charlet and Charles Etienne Pierre Motte

Be a mason then, if that is your talent!

Be a mason then, if that is your talent!

1820-1822

Physical Qualities Crayon lithograph, Sheet: 273 x 210 mm. (10 3/4 x 8 1/4 in.) Image: 202 x 173 mm. (7 15/16 x 6 13/16 in.)
Credit Line The George A. Lucas Collection, purchased with funds from the State of Maryland, Laurence and Stella Bendann Fund, and contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations throughout the Baltimore community
Object Number 1996.48.7424
The Baltimore Museum of Art by purchase, 1996; The Maryland Institute College of Art, through Henry Walters, Baltimore, by bequest 1909; from George A. Lucas, Paris

Inscribed: Signed in stone: lower left "Charlet" Inscribed: lower center "Soyez plutôt maçon, si c'est votre talent!"; lower right "Litho de C. Motte"

Markings: None

Artist

Nicolas-Toussaint Charlet

French, 1792-1845

French, 1792-1845
Meet Nicolas-Toussaint Charlet

Printer

Charles Etienne Pierre Motte

French, 1785 - 1836

French, 1785 - 1836
Meet Charles Etienne Pierre Motte
Not on View

Explore the Collection Further

BY SAME ARTIST
PRINTS, DRAWINGS & PHOTOGRAPHS
AN OLD MAN
A. Ledoux and Nicolas-Toussaint Charlet
An Old Man
n.d.
YOU HAVE TO EXCUSE ME, I AM GOING TO DINE. ... BY THE WAY, HAVE YOU HAD YOUR DINNER ALREADY? - NO, NOT YET. - WELL, WELL, I'LL HAVE MINE BEFORE YOU THEN. GOODBYE.
Honoré Daumier and Charivari
You have to excuse me, I am going to dine. ... by the way, have you had your dinner already? - no, not yet. - Well, well, I'll have mine before you then. Goodbye.
1852
CHARLET
Nicolas-Toussaint Charlet, Lesauvage, and others
Charlet
n.d.
YES SIR, IN EXCHANGE FOR A SMALL PREMIUM WITH OUR INSURANCE, YOU CAN BE ASSURED FOR DEATH....FOR DEATH IN A PROPER GENTLEMANLY MANNER. WHEN YOU GO OFF IN A FINE HEARSE, VERY COMFORTABLE, TO BE MOURNED BY THE POOR PEOPLE OF THE DISTRICT, AND LEAVING AN INCONSOLABLE WIDOW IN GOLDEN LETTERS ON YOUR GRAVE.... - AND IF YOU DON'T KEEP YOUR PROMISES? - THEN YOU CAN STILL GIVE US A RECEIPT AND SUE US BEFORE A TRIBUNAL.
Honoré Daumier
Yes sir, in exchange for a small premium with our insurance, you can be assured for death....for death in a proper gentlemanly manner. When you go off in a fine hearse, very comfortable, to be mourned by the poor people of the district, and leaving an inconsolable widow in golden letters on your grave.... - And if you don't keep your promises? - Then you can still give us a receipt and sue us before a tribunal.
1838
BOY IN FRONT OF A GROCERY STORE
Nicolas-Toussaint Charlet
Boy in front of a grocery store
1840-1842
THE CONSTITUTIONNEL AND THE WANDERING JEW. - COME ON, OLD MAN, LET'S GO, COME ON! IF I CAN'T EVEN MAKE YOU WALK, THEN YOUR INFIRMITY IS REALLY A CONSTITUTIONAL PROBLEM...
Honoré Daumier
The Constitutionnel and the wandering Jew. - Come on, old man, let's go, come on! If I can't even make you walk, then your infirmity is really a constitutional problem...
1844
THE DUTIFUL
Guilbaut, Nicolas-Toussaint Charlet, and others
The Dutiful
1841
INITIATION OF A FREEMASON. WE KNOW FROM RELIABLE SOURCES THAT YOU ARE ONLY AMONG US TO REVEAL OUR SECRETS TO OUTSIDERS.... YOUR GUILTFUL PROJECTS WILL BE THWARTED...... I HAVE RECEIVED ORDER TO DRIVE THIS DAGGER INTO YOUR CHEST!
Honoré Daumier
Initiation of a freemason. We know from reliable sources that you are only among us to reveal our secrets to outsiders.... your guiltful projects will be thwarted...... I have received order to drive this dagger into your chest!
1846
THE BOULES PLAYER
A. Louis, Nicolas-Toussaint Charlet, and others
The Boules Player
1841
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 SCHOOLBOY
Guilbaut, Nicolas-Toussaint Charlet, and others
The Schoolboy
n.d.
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