Célébrités de la Caricature

Paris: Chez Aubert, 1833. Orléanist Politicians as Seen by Daumier

DAUMIER, Honoré. Célébrités de la Caricature. Paris: Chez Aubert, 1833.

Folio (4 3/4 x 10 1/2 inches; 374 x 267 mm.).

Two inserted portraits, one inserted illustration by Jouas, and seventeen (of twenty-six) superb lithograph plates from the series Célébrités de la Caricature by Honoré Daumier, and five hand colored duplicate plates.
All plates mounted on stubs.

Bound ca. 1900 in three-quarter black morocco over marbled boards, smooth spine decoratively stamped and lettered horizontally in gilt 'Portraits en Pied Parlementaires - 1833', marbled endpapers. Some foxing throughout.

"Célébrités de la Caricature [Celebrities from La Caricature] is a series of 26 lithographs, which appeared in La Caricature and Le Charivari between April 26, 1832 and November 9, 1833. The first eight prints of the series show the portraits of well known politicians of the time. Underneath, taking up almost as much space as the portrait itself, an imaginary coat of arms is showing the characteristics of the person. It is in most cases in color although the portrait is in black and white. The last 18 prints show full size portraits without the coat of arms.

Philipon had first asked Traviès and later Daumier to draw caricatures of Orléanist politicians, while he supplied the text as well as the ideas for their respective coats of arms. On April 26, 1832 Philipon explained the project, which was to be highly successful, to the readers of the Charivari. The publication however had to be delayed since Daumier decided to first mould clay models of each politician before drawing the lithograph. These "Célébrités de la Caricature" appeared under DR 43, 45, 46, 48, and 51, starting with Monsieur de Lameth. In March 1833, the Charivari took over from the Caricature and published another three personalities with their coat of arms under DR 144, 150 and 173. After that, the series continued with portraits and full figure designs, however without the allusive arms. This third section contained 18 full size portraits, published in the Caricature during 1833. While the former prints were of a vignette like shape, Daumier now showed the entire figure of the person, concentrating on their overall appearance, including the clothing. The sometimes "theatrical" costumes further enhanced the message the artist wanted to convey of the person's human qualities." (Daumier Register).

We have been unable to find any copies of Célébrités de la Caricature at auction over the past 100 years.
OCLC & KVK locate no copies in libraries and institutions wordwide.

The Plates:

Inserted [Portrait of young Daumier]
Inserted Portrait de H. Daumier - Salon de 1881 by Auguste Boulard
Inserted illustration of various 'Daumier characters' by Charles Jouas on glossy paper
1. Mr. Arlépaire. [La Caricature 05/06/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 280]. (DR #55).
2. Mr. Baill. [La Caricature 12/09/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 312]. (DR #69).
3. Mr. Baill. (Color) [La Caricature 12/09/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 312]. (DR #69).
4. Mr. Barthe. [La Caricature 18/07/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 294]. (DR #62).
5. Mr. Benjamin Dudessert. [La Caricature 27/06/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 287]. (DR #59).
6. Mr. Cunin Grid. [La Caricature 18/07/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 295]. (DR #64).
7. Mr. Cunin Grid. (Color) [La Caricature 18/07/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 295]. (DR #64).
8. Mr. Étien. [La Caricature 13/06/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 283]. (DR #57).
9. Mr. Étien. (Color) [La Caricature 13/06/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 283]. (DR #57).
10. Mr. Fulchir. [La Caricature 16/05/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 273]. (DR #53).
11. Mr. Guiz. [La Caricature 13/12/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 340]. (DR #74).
12. Mr. Keratr. [La Caricature 19/09/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 314]. (DR #70).
13. Mr. Joliv. [La Caricature 27/12/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 346]. (DR #75).
14. Mr. Odieux. [La Caricature 20/06/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 285]. (DR #58).
15. Mr. Pot de Naz. [La Caricature 02/05/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 270]. (DR #52).
16. Mr. Prune. [La Caricature 27/06/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 288]. (DR #60).
17. Mr. De Rign. [La Caricature 21/11/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 333]. (DR #72).
18. Mr. Royer-Col. [La Caricature 22/08/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 306]. (DR #68).
19. Mr. Royer-Col. (Color) [La Caricature 22/08/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 306]. (DR #68).
20. Mr. Sébast. [La Caricature 13/06/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 281]. (DR #56).
21. Mr. Sébast. (Color) [La Caricature 13/06/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 281]. (DR #56).
22. Mr. Vieux-Niais. [La Caricature 30/05/1833 - Célébrités de la Caricature - plate no. 278]. (DR #54).

Daumier Register: DR-43 - DR-75 & DR-144, 150 & 173.
(The missing plates are DR-43; 45; 46; 48; 51; 53; 63; 144; 150 & 173).