The Fly-Catcher

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The Fly-Catcher
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The Fly-Catcher

PortfolioPlate 5 from the series "Cours d'histoire naturelle"
Date1837
MediumCrayon lithograph with hand coloring
DimensionsImage: 219 x 186 mm. (8 5/8 x 7 5/16 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 number1996.48.3881
NOT ON VIEW
Last Updated1/11/24
Image Not Available for The Oyster
The Oyster
1837
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
Image Not Available for It won't be as easy as that, Monsieur! You perpetrated the infamy to ask for the money that I owe you.... You oblige me to admit that I cannot pay you. You humiliate me. I demand compensation, Monsieur!
It won't be as easy as that, Monsieur! You perpetrated the infamy to ask for the money that I owe you.... You oblige me to admit that I cannot pay you. You humiliate me. I demand compensation, Monsieur!
1837
Image Not Available for Exploiting friendship. My dear Alphonse, I've invited these gentlemen, my friends, to dine at your home. I would like them to taste our champagne, we'll laugh... wait a minute! I've an idea. What if we went to the wood? We could take your barouche and you could lend us some clothes as we only came to pay a simple visite... In the meantime, why don't you give us some cards and some Napoleons to pass the time. Eh? My good Alphonse, dear chap. How about it?
Exploiting friendship. My dear Alphonse, I've invited these gentlemen, my friends, to dine at your home. I would like them to taste our champagne, we'll laugh... wait a minute! I've an idea. What if we went to the wood? We could take your barouche and you could lend us some clothes as we only came to pay a simple visite... In the meantime, why don't you give us some cards and some Napoleons to pass the time. Eh? My good Alphonse, dear chap. How about it?
1837
Image Not Available for Conscript replacement agency. -There's merchandise an' merchandise! You wan' a common replacement, that'll cost yer only 800 F., but I warn yer, they're all swindlers, crooks who don't stay with their regiment, who skedaddle at the first opportunity and who 'ave ter be retrieved.... Would yer like ter make it 1'500 F., take that speciment, it ain't handsome but it's of good composition and it's got papers... As many as yer like an' it don't flinch from six years' service. - Bertrand (aside): You c'n count on it, civilian!"
Conscript replacement agency. -There's merchandise an' merchandise! You wan' a common replacement, that'll cost yer only 800 F., but I warn yer, they're all swindlers, crooks who don't stay with their regiment, who skedaddle at the first opportunity and who 'ave ter be retrieved.... Would yer like ter make it 1'500 F., take that speciment, it ain't handsome but it's of good composition and it's got papers... As many as yer like an' it don't flinch from six years' service. - Bertrand (aside): You c'n count on it, civilian!"
1837
Image Not Available for Robert Macaire's boarding school. - Professor, here's my system of education. Have an undemanding curriculum so that study lasts as long as possible, give holidays, receive presents at every possible anniversary, and as for the prices, one should be perfectly impartial... - Quite right! They should only be given to the best pupils. - What! Upset the parents! Oh no! Not at all! Prizes shall be given to everybody. To every man his due!
Robert Macaire's boarding school. - Professor, here's my system of education. Have an undemanding curriculum so that study lasts as long as possible, give holidays, receive presents at every possible anniversary, and as for the prices, one should be perfectly impartial... - Quite right! They should only be given to the best pupils. - What! Upset the parents! Oh no! Not at all! Prizes shall be given to everybody. To every man his due!
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 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 My God! Monseigneur, I am forced to leave for the countryside, allow me to leave my wife behind to keep you company
My God! Monseigneur, I am forced to leave for the countryside, allow me to leave my wife behind to keep you company
1837
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