JEAN-LOUIS-ERNEST MEISSONIER (LYON 1815-1891 PARIS)

Executed by Meissonier in 1852 as costume designs for Diane, a play by Emile Augier (1820-1889). Almost forgotten today, Augier enjoyed immense fame during his lifetime. He was made Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur at the age of 26 and was elected to the Académie française in 1857.
Augier, the first owner of these drawings, inscribed all of them on the verso with the name of the characters for which the costumes were made: Diane (she was played by Mademoiselle Rachel, the most famous French actress of her time), Grandin, the Marquis de Pienne, Paul de Mirmande and Parnajon.
The sixth drawing in this lot, executed in black and red chalk only and representing a woman weaving, is also annotated by Augier: 'dessin inachevé de mon ami Meissonier'.