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Lot Essay
Cette grande et unique lithographie en couleurs par Manet a fait l'objet d'une étude à l'aquarelle, d'une esquisse à l'huile et d'un tableau montrant Polichinelle (l'équivalent français du personnage de la Comedia dell'Arte Pulcinella) dans une pose différente. Cet intérêt inhabituel pour un personnage comique mineur aurait pu être un prétexte pour l'artiste de caricaturer le Maréchal MacMahon, alors récemment élu président de la République et réactionnaire notoire, envers lequel Manet, et sûrment Degas aussi, avaient une haine profonde.
Notre épreuve correspond certainement à celle incluse dans la vente de la Collection d'Estampes de Degas, et qui fut adjugée à René de Gas pour la somme de 145 Frs. Il s'agit donc probablement de l'épreuve achetée par Edgar Degas à la vente des biens de son ami décédé Edmond Duranty en janvier 1881. Elle faisait probablement partie du lot 138 qui contenait aussi neuf eaux-fortes de Manet (voir C. Ives, S. Alyson Stein, and J.A. Steiner, The Private Collection of Edgar Degas; A Summary Catalogue, New York, 1997, No. 875).
Manet's only colour lithograph, this large print was preceded by a watercolour study, as well as an oil sketch and a painting showing Polichinelle, the French form of the commedia dell'arte character Pulcinella, in a different pose. This unusual interest in a minor comic figure may conceal Manet's wish to caricture the former general and recently elected president of the Republic, Marshal MacMahon, a notoriously reactionary leader whom Manet, and no doubt Degas too, deeply despised.
The present impression is presumably that included in the sale of Degas's print collection, where it was purchased by René de Gas for 145 frs. And it is presumably the same impression that Degas recorded buying at the sale of his late friend Edmond Duranty's estate at the Hôtel Drouot, Paris, 28-29 January 1881, probably as part of lot 138, which also included nine Manet etchings (see C. Ives, S. Alyson Stein, and J.A. Steiner, The Private Collection of Edgar Degas; A Summary Catalogue, New York, 1997, no. 875).
Notre épreuve correspond certainement à celle incluse dans la vente de la Collection d'Estampes de Degas, et qui fut adjugée à René de Gas pour la somme de 145 Frs. Il s'agit donc probablement de l'épreuve achetée par Edgar Degas à la vente des biens de son ami décédé Edmond Duranty en janvier 1881. Elle faisait probablement partie du lot 138 qui contenait aussi neuf eaux-fortes de Manet (voir C. Ives, S. Alyson Stein, and J.A. Steiner, The Private Collection of Edgar Degas; A Summary Catalogue, New York, 1997, No. 875).
Manet's only colour lithograph, this large print was preceded by a watercolour study, as well as an oil sketch and a painting showing Polichinelle, the French form of the commedia dell'arte character Pulcinella, in a different pose. This unusual interest in a minor comic figure may conceal Manet's wish to caricture the former general and recently elected president of the Republic, Marshal MacMahon, a notoriously reactionary leader whom Manet, and no doubt Degas too, deeply despised.
The present impression is presumably that included in the sale of Degas's print collection, where it was purchased by René de Gas for 145 frs. And it is presumably the same impression that Degas recorded buying at the sale of his late friend Edmond Duranty's estate at the Hôtel Drouot, Paris, 28-29 January 1881, probably as part of lot 138, which also included nine Manet etchings (see C. Ives, S. Alyson Stein, and J.A. Steiner, The Private Collection of Edgar Degas; A Summary Catalogue, New York, 1997, no. 875).