The Bluestocking Husband. Monsieur, my wife has been inspired since this morning: it is impossible to see her. As you can see, I have to give my full attention to the fruit of our most recent collaboration!

Skip to main content
Collections Menu
Image Not Available for The Bluestocking Husband. Monsieur, my wife has been inspired since this morning: it is impossible to see her. As you can see, I have to give my full attention to the fruit of our most recent collaboration!
The Bluestocking Husband. Monsieur, my wife has been inspired since this morning: it is impossible to see her. As you can see, I have to give my full attention to the fruit of our most recent collaboration!
Image Not Available for The Bluestocking Husband. Monsieur, my wife has been inspired since this morning: it is impossible to see her. As you can see, I have to give my full attention to the fruit of our most recent collaboration!

The Bluestocking Husband. Monsieur, my wife has been inspired since this morning: it is impossible to see her. As you can see, I have to give my full attention to the fruit of our most recent collaboration!

PortfolioPlate 46 from the series "Mouers Conjugales"
Date1842
MediumCrayon lithograph
DimensionsSheet: 194 x 278 mm. (7 5/8 x 10 15/16 in.)
Credit LineBoard of Trustees Fund
Object number1961.229
NOT ON VIEW
Last Updated1/11/24
Image Not Available for The husband (reading aloud): "We lay indolently on the fragrant moss, while the beams of the moon flickered through the branches of a willow, gently swaying in the evening breeze. Overcome with love we cried to to heaven the longings we felt in our hearts." His wife (sotto voce): how can he possibly read such poetry and wear a night bonnet and a face like this.
The husband (reading aloud): "We lay indolently on the fragrant moss, while the beams of the moon flickered through the branches of a willow, gently swaying in the evening breeze. Overcome with love we cried to to heaven the longings we felt in our hearts." His wife (sotto voce): how can he possibly read such poetry and wear a night bonnet and a face like this.
1839
Image Not Available for Husband: My dear, how about a first kiss on my chin? The wife (aside): To think that I am married to this face!
Husband: My dear, how about a first kiss on my chin? The wife (aside): To think that I am married to this face!
1840
Image Not Available for There goes my wife!! Oh, the wretch, while I'm having a shave she's making a cuckold of me!
There goes my wife!! Oh, the wretch, while I'm having a shave she's making a cuckold of me!
1840
Image Not Available for See him strut with such a style - you'd swear he was an officer of the artillery, and that he was cut out for a great lawyer or powerful business man.
See him strut with such a style - you'd swear he was an officer of the artillery, and that he was cut out for a great lawyer or powerful business man.
1839
Image Not Available for Yes, love, you may call me overly jealous. But I had to leave the post at City Hall in order to see whether anybody had taken mine here!
Yes, love, you may call me overly jealous. But I had to leave the post at City Hall in order to see whether anybody had taken mine here!
1839
Image Not Available for The Chevalier des Adrets is the lover of a woman of the world. He is amiable and fervent, he pretends to be passionate and devoted... one day, an alleged bailiff and an alleged bill of exchange fall like a clap of thunder into the midst of the most tender effusion of feeling... "Oh! My God!! The Baron de Wormspire, a so-called friend, has had the impudence to have me thrown into prison... He's ruined my good fortune, separated me from what I love! Oh! Friends!! What are friends?... There's no such thing as a friend!!!..." The poor woman, poor dupe, casts off her jewels, gives him everything she can, borrows, ruins herself, only to discover too late that her knight is only a knight of industry, a right Robert Macaire.
The Chevalier des Adrets is the lover of a woman of the world. He is amiable and fervent, he pretends to be passionate and devoted... one day, an alleged bailiff and an alleged bill of exchange fall like a clap of thunder into the midst of the most tender effusion of feeling... "Oh! My God!! The Baron de Wormspire, a so-called friend, has had the impudence to have me thrown into prison... He's ruined my good fortune, separated me from what I love! Oh! Friends!! What are friends?... There's no such thing as a friend!!!..." The poor woman, poor dupe, casts off her jewels, gives him everything she can, borrows, ruins herself, only to discover too late that her knight is only a knight of industry, a right Robert Macaire.
1838
Image Not Available for Monsieur...Monsieur, here's your handkerchief
Monsieur...Monsieur, here's your handkerchief
1842
Image Not Available for Lord! ... If I'd only used my brains!
Lord! ... If I'd only used my brains!
1839
Image Not Available for Little rascal! I believe he will have my nose!
Little rascal! I believe he will have my nose!
1840
Image Not Available for Various news. "The Rue de la Lune has been illuminated with gas light." Correction: In our last edition instead of "The mayor has given birth to twins" it should read: "He has returned into town." We are being informed from Dijon: "The latest frost has completely destroyed the mustard seeds; this will most likely result in considerable price increases for Moutarde de Dijon." - We inform our readers of a new kind of activity: cunning swindlers are getting information about the addresses of regular patrons of coffee houses. While the clients are reading the newspapers, the thieves will pillage to their home.
Various news. "The Rue de la Lune has been illuminated with gas light." Correction: In our last edition instead of "The mayor has given birth to twins" it should read: "He has returned into town." We are being informed from Dijon: "The latest frost has completely destroyed the mustard seeds; this will most likely result in considerable price increases for Moutarde de Dijon." - We inform our readers of a new kind of activity: cunning swindlers are getting information about the addresses of regular patrons of coffee houses. While the clients are reading the newspapers, the thieves will pillage to their home.
1842
Image Not Available for A good husband. - A total of 27 Fr. 50 Cts. - Very good. Take the bill to my wife who'll pay you... - (this right beggar Macaire isn't half content to have a wife to pay his debts!)... - Yes, I've an excellent wife who works like a slave, deprives herself of everything, who sacrifices her life for me... a wife who adores me. But I'm not ungrateful. She already has eight children and I'd like her to have twelve... - (Bertrand) There's a happy woman!!!
A good husband. - A total of 27 Fr. 50 Cts. - Very good. Take the bill to my wife who'll pay you... - (this right beggar Macaire isn't half content to have a wife to pay his debts!)... - Yes, I've an excellent wife who works like a slave, deprives herself of everything, who sacrifices her life for me... a wife who adores me. But I'm not ungrateful. She already has eight children and I'd like her to have twelve... - (Bertrand) There's a happy woman!!!
1837
Image Not Available for Robert Macaire before his judges. Very well! Yes, gentlemen, I was rather unfortunate at the Assize Court... but misfortune is always respectable!... moreover, it’s true what has been said, I've a habit of subtracting money, it's easier to excuse me than someone else because it's harder for me to resist my weakness... as for the rest, I am accused of selling lead for gold? Twenty witnesses swear to it. Very well! I deny it forty times and since two denials are worth an avowal it's clear that you cannot find me guilty. (after this brilliant improvisation Robert Macaire is condemned with a maximum sentence).
Robert Macaire before his judges. Very well! Yes, gentlemen, I was rather unfortunate at the Assize Court... but misfortune is always respectable!... moreover, it’s true what has been said, I've a habit of subtracting money, it's easier to excuse me than someone else because it's harder for me to resist my weakness... as for the rest, I am accused of selling lead for gold? Twenty witnesses swear to it. Very well! I deny it forty times and since two denials are worth an avowal it's clear that you cannot find me guilty. (after this brilliant improvisation Robert Macaire is condemned with a maximum sentence).
1837