The Oyster

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Image Not Available for The Oyster
The Oyster
Image Not Available for The Oyster

The Oyster

PortfolioPlate 4 from the series "Cours d'histoire naturelle"
Date1837
MediumCrayon lithograph with hand coloring
DimensionsImage: 213 x 189 mm. (8 3/8 x 7 7/16 in.)

Credit LineThe George A. Lucas Collection, purchased with funds from the State of Maryland, Laurence and Stella Bendann Fund, and contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations throughout the Baltimore community
Object number1996.48.3889
NOT ON VIEW
Last Updated1/11/24
Image Not Available for The Oyster. (You'll wake me up at dinner time.) Big, fat, thick, plump, greedy, wakes up only for the purpose of taking in food and sleeps only for the purpose of digesting it. The oyster does not eat for living, but lives for eating. Its locomotive and industrial apparatus are non existent. It vegetates on the spot and its existence is manifested only by the exactitude, the number and the quality of the meals. The entire energy of the oyster is located in the stomach. One might call it an animal of pleasure, its only mission in life being to consume without working, while others work without consuming. It seems to be perfectly at ease with this providential mission. (Lacépède – Natural History.)
The Oyster. (You'll wake me up at dinner time.) Big, fat, thick, plump, greedy, wakes up only for the purpose of taking in food and sleeps only for the purpose of digesting it. The oyster does not eat for living, but lives for eating. Its locomotive and industrial apparatus are non existent. It vegetates on the spot and its existence is manifested only by the exactitude, the number and the quality of the meals. The entire energy of the oyster is located in the stomach. One might call it an animal of pleasure, its only mission in life being to consume without working, while others work without consuming. It seems to be perfectly at ease with this providential mission.
(Lacépède – Natural History.)
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 Listen carefully! If you are being asked for arabic Racahout to fatten all kinds of sultanas (women in a harem), for arabian Nafé for suckling children of all ages, for oriental Kaiffa to cure gastritis or corns, for Theobrome against vomiting, for Amandine, Indostane, Osman-Iglou, Paraguay-Roux, Criosote, Chocolat of Salep, Hypocras, white mustard to treat black moods, tooth ache and overweight, or Giant Cabbage seed, you will find it all in this bag, make no mistake!! You can sell it as a powder, ointment, solution or pellets, as you see fit. - Damnit! What kind of pellets are these anyway? - They are fool's pellets of the highest quality. - Splendid, splendid!
Listen carefully! If you are being asked for arabic Racahout to fatten all kinds of sultanas (women in a harem), for arabian Nafé for suckling children of all ages, for oriental Kaiffa to cure gastritis or corns, for Theobrome against vomiting, for Amandine, Indostane, Osman-Iglou, Paraguay-Roux, Criosote, Chocolat of Salep, Hypocras, white mustard to treat black moods, tooth ache and overweight, or Giant Cabbage seed, you will find it all in this bag, make no mistake!! You can sell it as a powder, ointment, solution or pellets, as you see fit.
- Damnit! What kind of pellets are these anyway? - They are fool's pellets of the highest quality. - Splendid, splendid!
1837
Image Not Available for Preparing for the baccalaureate. - There are two ways in which you might pass your exams: the first way is to let someone else take your place; the second is to take them yourself. - I would like to take them myself. - Very good!... Do you know Greek? - No. - Latin? - None the more. - Excellent!... Do you know your Math? - Not at all. - What do you know then? - Nothing. - But you've 200 francs? - Of course! - Splendid... You'll be passed next Thursday. - You mean you're going to prepare me in eight days? - What do you think!!!!... It's true that I've taken on the responsibility for your success, but for teaching you... Oh no! Certainly not!!
Preparing for the baccalaureate. - There are two ways in which you might pass your exams: the first way is to let someone else take your place; the second is to take them yourself. - I would like to take them myself. - Very good!... Do you know Greek? - No. - Latin? - None the more. - Excellent!... Do you know your Math? - Not at all.
- What do you know then? - Nothing. - But you've 200 francs? - Of course! - Splendid... You'll be passed next Thursday. - You mean you're going to prepare me in eight days? - What do you think!!!!... It's true that I've taken on the responsibility for your success, but for teaching you... Oh no! Certainly not!!
1837
Image Not Available for The Fly-Catcher
The Fly-Catcher
1837
Image Not Available for Between 11 O'Clock and Midnight
Between 11 O'Clock and Midnight
1844
Image Not Available for The Sellers of the Époque
The Sellers of the Époque
1845
Image Not Available for Knock and it shall be opened!
Knock and it shall be opened!
1850
Image Not Available for The Street Tout
The Street Tout
1841
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 Yes my uncle, my virtuous uncle, I was a spendthrift, gambler, seducer, I had many faults, in a word I was frivolous... but you're ill, very ill, the doctors have abandoned you... I've come to aid you, to fall at your feet, I'll swear... anything you like... I'll only leave you at death, my kind uncle, my so excellent uncle! Let's embrace and put an end to it. (Macaire, sole inheritor, has his dear uncle thrown into a common pit).
Yes my uncle, my virtuous uncle, I was a spendthrift, gambler, seducer, I had many faults, in a word I was frivolous... but you're ill, very ill, the doctors have abandoned you... I've come to aid you, to fall at your feet, I'll swear... anything you like... I'll only leave you at death, my kind uncle, my so excellent uncle! Let's embrace and put an end to it. (Macaire, sole inheritor, has his dear uncle thrown into a common pit).
1837
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