The new Neapolitan Buffoon. Receiving the congratulations of the Devil instead of being carried off by him.

Skip to main content
Collections Menu
Image Not Available for The new Neapolitan Buffoon. Receiving the congratulations of the Devil instead of being carried off by him.
The new Neapolitan Buffoon. Receiving the congratulations of the Devil instead of being carried off by him.
Image Not Available for The new Neapolitan Buffoon. Receiving the congratulations of the Devil instead of being carried off by him.

The new Neapolitan Buffoon. Receiving the congratulations of the Devil instead of being carried off by him.

PortfolioPlate 229 from the series "Actualités"
Date1855
MediumCrayon lithograph with hand coloring
DimensionsSheet: 232 × 215 mm. (9 1/8 × 8 7/16 in.)
Credit LineNelson and Juanita Greif Gutman Collection
Object number1963.313.56
NOT ON VIEW
Last Updated1/11/24
Image Not Available for The new Neapolitan buffoon receiving the congratulations of the devil instead of being carried off by him
The new Neapolitan buffoon receiving the congratulations of the devil instead of being carried off by him
1855
Image Not Available for Mr. Viennet at the rostrum. What do I say! (Mr. Laboissière, you do say the nicest things!)…. Let us be greedy... let us give the ministers the funds that they require and let's vote for repressive laws. The present legality is killing us etc. etc. The speaker has carried on in this tone for three hours and 35 minutes and no one has bothered answering him.
Mr. Viennet at the rostrum. What do I say! (Mr. Laboissière, you do say the nicest things!)…. Let us be greedy... let us give the ministers the funds that they require and let's vote for repressive laws. The present legality is killing us etc. etc. The speaker has carried on in this tone for three hours and 35 minutes and no one has bothered answering him.
1833
Image Not Available for Robert Macaire business agent. - By the devil! It's really admirable of you to break your back to pay off your debts, my good chap, wipe them out at once! - But how? - Good heavens! Bring me your books, I'll put them in order, it's my specialty, we'll settle for a few liabilities, a large number of assets, we'll assemble your creditors, we'll offer five percent to be paid over ten years, you won't give them anything during the ten years, in ten years' time you'll start again, your creditors will be dead, the debts forgotten and nobody will say a word about it.
Robert Macaire business agent. - By the devil! It's really admirable of you to break your back to pay off your debts, my good chap, wipe them out at once! - But how? - Good heavens! Bring me your books, I'll put them in order, it's my specialty, we'll settle for a few liabilities, a large number of assets, we'll assemble your creditors, we'll offer five percent to be paid over ten years, you won't give them anything during the ten years, in ten years' time you'll start again, your creditors will be dead, the debts forgotten and nobody will say a word about it.
1837
Image Not Available for A Landlord. - Oh! Mr. de Macaire, you wouldn't turn us out into the street just for being a miserable quarter late with our rent... - Where else should I put you, by devil? - But we've spent 30'000Fr. in your shop!... - That's another reason, it all comes back to me... - And my four poor small children?... - What the heavens is that to do with me. I didn't ask you to have them!...
A Landlord. - Oh! Mr. de Macaire, you wouldn't turn us out into the street just for being a miserable quarter late with our rent... - Where else should I put you, by devil? - But we've spent 30'000Fr. in your shop!... - That's another reason, it all comes back to me... - And my four poor small children?... - What the heavens is that to do with me. I didn't ask you to have them!...
1837
Image Not Available for And here we see the inventor of the new pin-gun. the latest news really don't seem to go down well with him.
And here we see the inventor of the new pin-gun. the latest news really don't seem to go down well with him.
1876
Image Not Available for Men of 25 years asking for explanation concerning their classification in Flouren's latest book.
Men of 25 years asking for explanation concerning their classification in Flouren's latest book.
1855
Image Not Available for Lion's share. Calm yourselves, gentlemen. We've a hundred louis, eighty of them belong to me, eighteen to Mr. Le Comte de St. Bertrand, that leaves two for the fifteen of you... It's strange, these eternal complaints!! Really, it's just not possible to make such a mistake!... What the devil, gentlemen, we're all honest men, sort things out between yourselves, share the two louis between you, let’s not make a scandal!
Lion's share. Calm yourselves, gentlemen. We've a hundred louis, eighty of them belong to me, eighteen to Mr. Le Comte de St. Bertrand, that leaves two for the fifteen of you... It's strange, these eternal complaints!! Really, it's just not possible to make such a mistake!... What the devil, gentlemen, we're all honest men, sort things out between yourselves, share the two louis between you, let’s not make a scandal!
1837
Image Not Available for The other day, I pulled off another smart trick... I had set up a firm with a capital of ten million francs to exploit top boots in cardboard ... I had placed only eight shares worth a petty 1200 francs... I called together my eight shareholders and held forth in something like the following manner: "Ah! Good-day ye strolling gentlemen, how handsome you are, how fine you seem!" I promised them more cheese than bread, I gave them a 50% dividend, I warmed them up a bit and let them simmer... The following day they couldn't get hold of my shares fast enough, I placed all of them and at the next meeting I said: "The last time I did the books I made a mistake. I forgot to take into account the price of the cardboard and its fabrication. You must return the dividend I gave you, I'm going to hold it back... I put down nothing and kept back the r
The other day, I pulled off another smart trick... I had set up a firm with a capital of ten million francs to exploit top boots in cardboard ... I had placed only eight shares worth a petty 1200 francs... I called together my eight shareholders and held forth in something like the following manner: "Ah! Good-day ye strolling gentlemen, how handsome you are, how fine you seem!" I promised them more cheese than bread, I gave them a 50% dividend, I warmed them up a bit and let them simmer... The following day they couldn't get hold of my shares fast enough, I placed all of them and at the next meeting I said: "The last time I did the books I made a mistake. I forgot to take into account the price of the cardboard and its fabrication. You must return the dividend I gave you, I'm going to hold it back... I put down nothing and kept back the r
1838
Image Not Available for Stockbroker at the close of the day. Note down: Bought 10,000 Fr. worth of government bonds at 5% for Mr. Tripot, at 106 Fr. 90 Cts... Oh, well, he's a good lad, put down 80 centimes... Bought 15,000 Fr. worth at 5% for Mr. Moutonnet, at... He's a beast who's always complaining, put down 95 centimes, that'll teach him to doubt my integrity!
Stockbroker at the close of the day. Note down: Bought 10,000 Fr. worth of government bonds at 5% for Mr. Tripot, at 106 Fr. 90 Cts... Oh, well, he's a good lad, put down 80 centimes... Bought 15,000 Fr. worth at 5% for Mr. Moutonnet, at... He's a beast who's always complaining, put down 95 centimes, that'll teach him to doubt my integrity!
1837-1838
Image Not Available for Robert Macaire, business agent. Yesterday I made a mistake when I said that your business is in good shape. It's detestable. The government owes you five hundred thousand francs, it's true, but the debt hasn't been recognized, there's a forfeiture today, you won't have a penny. However, come to think of it, there's Mr. de St. Bertrand, a rich capitalist, an imbecile, sell him your interests for a hundred crowns, that'll be a splendid deal... (aside) and not expensive.
Robert Macaire, business agent. Yesterday I made a mistake when I said that your business is in good shape. It's detestable. The government owes you five hundred thousand francs, it's true, but the debt hasn't been recognized, there's a forfeiture today, you won't have a penny. However, come to think of it, there's Mr. de St. Bertrand, a rich capitalist, an imbecile, sell him your interests for a hundred crowns, that'll be a splendid deal... (aside) and not expensive.
1836
Image Not Available for He was your lover Madame! (bravo! bravo!) And I killed him! (bravo! bravo!)
He was your lover Madame! (bravo! bravo!) And I killed him! (bravo! bravo!)
1864
Image Not Available for Obviously I resemble him.
Obviously I resemble him.
1870