Jean-Ignace-Isidore Gérard dit Grandville

Smalls holes restored in the upper part on the right and on the left. The drawing is slightly faded. Photography is slightly pinker than drawing. Framed.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Notre dessin est une étude pour l'illustration du texte Histoire d'un merle blanc, faisant partie du recueil Scènes de la vie privée et publique des animaux. Notre dessin représentant le merle blanc épuisé, nourrit par la pie illustre le passage suivant :
"Je fis un effort pour me lever; mais la fatigue du voyage et la douleur que je ressentais de ma chute me paralysaient tous les membres. A peine me fus-je dressé sur mes pattes, que la défaillance me reprit, et je retombai sur le flanc. L'affreuse pensée de la mort se présentait déjà à mon esprit, lorsque, à travers les bleuets et les coquelicots je vis venir à moi, sur la pointe du pied deux charmantes personnes. [... ] Pendant qu'elle parlait, je m'étais soulevé un peu de côté et je mangeais de grand appétit.".¹

1. Voir Scènes de la vie privée et publique des animaux, Paris 1842, pp. 344-5

This drawing is a study for an illustration to the Histoire d'un merle blanc, another tale from the Scènes de la vie privée et publique des animaux. The composition, showing the white blackbird in a state of exhaustion being fed by the magpie, illustrates the following passage:

"I made an effort to get up; but the fatigue from the journey and the grief that I felt as a result of my fall left me paralysed in all my limbs. I could hardly get to my feet when the feebleness took me over once more, and I fell onto my side again. The dreadful thought of death already presented itself to my spirit when, through the cornflowers and the poppies I saw approaching me on tiptoes two charming figures [...] While she spoke, I lifted myself a little to the side, and ate with great appetite."¹

1. See Scènes de la vie privée et publique des animaux, Paris 1842, pp. 344-5