Physical description
Recto: Two barristers walking together, the man on the left whispering in the other man’s ear; Verso: another study of a barrister stretching up his arms in front of him, behind him, a court audience.
Place of Origin
France (made)
Date
ca.1865 (made)
Artist/maker
Daumier, born 1808 - died 1879 (artist)
Materials and Techniques
Recto: Pen and black and red ink over traces of black chalk
Verso: graphite on paper
Marks and inscriptions
Signed bottom left corner with initials: ‘h.D.’
Dimensions
Height: 247 mm, Width: 194 mm
Object history note
Bequeathed by C.A. Ionides, 1900
Historical context note
This drawing is characteristic of Daumier’s oeuvre and shows one of his favourite subjects: lawyers at court. The linear treatment of the figures is emblematical of his vigorous style, and reminiscent of his caricatures for the satirical journal Le Charivari.
The drawing on the recto is typical of the many sketches datable from the 1860s showing lawyers passing, waving to each other and walking together (Musée des Beaux Arts de Reims; Williamstown, Sterling and Francine Clark Institute).This sketch is almost similar to the composition on the reverse of the watercolour Le boucher, marché Montmartre.
The drawing on the verso can be on the other hand related to a series of sketches focusing in the foreground on a lawyer pleading (see for instance Le Defenseur, Washington, the Phillips Collection). Moreover the gesture of this figure with his arms stretched recall another sketch in the V&A collection entitled Une cause criminelle (L’information [CAI. 125], which is most likely a preparatory study for the watercolour of the same title and dated about 1865 (The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles).
Daumier was a prolific draughtsman hence the difficulty to date most of his sketches. However these often turn out to be preparatory studies for compositions later engraved. It is not rare to find stylistic discrepancies in Daumier’s work of the same period: this would explain that although the drawing on the recto with many apparent pentimenti seems different than the one on the verso much more confident, they can be both dated of the same time.
Daumier was most celebrated during his life time for his satirical and anti-monarchist illustrations rather than his paintings and drawings. This sheet is a good example of Daumier’s observation of the French society and its professional categories. He did a few series of sketches focusing on different categories such as musicians, comedians, art collectors, rustic life, saltimbanques…
Descriptive line
Drawing, 'Une confidence (deux avocats)' by Honoré Daumier, French school, 1860s
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
K.E. Maison, Honoré Daumier, Catalogue Raisonné of the Paintings, Watercolours and Drawings, London 1968, vol. II, The Watercolours and Drawings, London 1968, p.215, cat. no. 649 (recto) & p.196, cat. no. 591 (verso)
J. Adhémar, Honoré Daumier, Drawings and Watercolours, 1954, pl. 44
Agnès Mongan ed., Great Drawings of all Time, vol.III, New York, 1962, pl. 759
E. Klossowski, Honoré Daumier, Munich, 1908, cat. no. 169.
E. Fuchs, Der Maler Daumier, Munich, 1927, cat. no. 201b.
Basil S. Long, Catalogue of the Constantine Alexander Ionides Collection, vol. I, Paintings in Oil, Tempera and Water-Colour together with certain of the Drawings, London 1925, p. 17, cat. no. 127.
Ives, Colta., Stuffmann, Margaret., and Sonnabend Martin, Daumier Drawings, New York, 1992, p.22-26, 180-181,190-191
Exhibition History
'Most magnificent and generous': master drawings, watercolours and prints from the Ionides Bequest (Victoria and Albert Museum 01/10/2005-30/11/2008)
Materials
Pen and ink; Black chalk
Techniques
Drawing
Subjects depicted
Work; Lawyers; Court-room; Barristers
Categories
Drawings
Collection code
PDP
