You Must Admit the Government Has a Very Funny-looking Head

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Image Not Available for You Must Admit the Government Has a Very Funny-looking Head
You Must Admit the Government Has a Very Funny-looking Head
Image Not Available for You Must Admit the Government Has a Very Funny-looking Head

You Must Admit the Government Has a Very Funny-looking Head

PortfolioPlate 121 from the journal "La Caricature," no. 60 (22 December 1831)
Date1831
MediumLithograph
DimensionsSheet: 247 x 345 mm. (9 3/4 x 13 9/16 in.)

Credit LineGift of Susan Schulman, New York, and Carolyn Bullard, Dallas, in Honor of Jay McKean Fisher's 30th Anniversary at The Baltimore Museum of Art
Object number2006.66
NOT ON VIEW
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Last Updated1/11/24
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
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 You must admit that it is a bit boring, Monsieur Loustalot, to stand like this all day with your arms up like that holding the signal-flag?... - You are telling me!.. and I'm so stuffed up with a cold! I needed to blow my nose for the past 45 minutes..... but I don't dare .... it might endanger the safety of the train.... I'll ask the next passenger who happens to pass by to do me this favour.
You must admit that it is a bit boring, Monsieur Loustalot, to stand like this all day with your arms up like that holding the signal-flag?... - You are telling me!.. and I'm so stuffed up with a cold! I needed to blow my nose for the past 45 minutes..... but I don't dare .... it might endanger the safety of the train.... I'll ask the next passenger who happens to pass by to do me this favour.
1843
Image Not Available for The Old Method. - Ah, how very funny.... so you are planning to spend the rest of your life tying paper tails to the back of some flies!... Let me see your hands... and you'll only pull them back, when I tell you so!
The Old Method. - Ah, how very funny.... so you are planning to spend the rest of your life tying paper tails to the back of some flies!... Let me see your hands... and you'll only pull them back, when I tell you so!
1845
Image Not Available for Trouvé-Chauvel. Strict guardian of the Republic's finances, citizen Trouvé-Chauvel never separates himself from the treasure, even when he goes to the National Assembly. It is true that it is very easy for him to carry it over his shoulder. This minister has an obsession, which is making him quite unhappy; he wants to balance revenue with expenditure, but he cannot find the means to this end.... also, he doesn't like people saying to him: - have you found it, Chauvel?....
Trouvé-Chauvel. Strict guardian of the Republic's finances, citizen Trouvé-Chauvel never separates himself from the treasure, even when he goes to the National Assembly. It is true that it is very easy for him to carry it over his shoulder. This minister has an obsession, which is making him quite unhappy; he wants to balance revenue with expenditure, but he cannot find the means to this end.... also, he doesn't like people saying to him: - have you found it, Chauvel?....
1848
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 The early morning caller. This person enters your home early in the morning and walks stealthily like a thief. If you wake up, he pretends having entered the wrong apartment, looking for a Mr. Pierre or a Mr. Paul. He is abashed with apologies and retreats after carrying off what has fallen into his hands. This man works around all the hotels, knowing that the travellers have the habit of leaving their key in the door.
The early morning caller. This person enters your home early in the morning and walks stealthily like a thief. If you wake up, he pretends having entered the wrong apartment, looking for a Mr. Pierre or a Mr. Paul. He is abashed with apologies and retreats after carrying off what has fallen into his hands. This man works around all the hotels, knowing that the travellers have the habit of leaving their key in the door.
1835
Image Not Available for My dear friend, you really don't look very well this morning. I am not speaking to you as a doctor, but as a friend. I must insist in treating you.... better than I would treat myself. I am going to apply 30 leeches to your belly and if by tomorrow you have not improved, I'll apply another sixty.
My dear friend, you really don't look very well this morning. I am not speaking to you as a doctor, but as a friend. I must insist in treating you.... better than I would treat myself. I am going to apply 30 leeches to your belly and if by tomorrow you have not improved, I'll apply another sixty.
1845
Image Not Available for Robert Macaire, sollicitor. - We've won, my dear fellow, won on every count! - And about time too. A case which has lasted ten years and has ruined me! - Better late than never! - How much did I get back in the end? - Here you are: The court awarded you 12'000 Fr, we totalled 13'500 Fr in expenses, you only owe me 1'500 Fr. - But that means I lose 1'500 Fr . - Yes, but you've won your case.
Robert Macaire, sollicitor. - We've won, my dear fellow, won on every count! - And about time too. A case which has lasted ten years and has ruined me! - Better late than never! - How much did I get back in the end? - Here you are: The court awarded you 12'000 Fr, we totalled 13'500 Fr in expenses, you only owe me 1'500 Fr. - But that means I lose 1'500 Fr . - Yes, but you've won your case.
1836
Image Not Available for There's no doubt, Monsieur Riflot, the law of petition is sacred, but it is being abused. Look at the example we just discussed: they want to tax bachelors, since they are useless for society. I feel sorry for all the married people.... I must also say that I know of no-one who has done as much for society, as I, Coquelet did.
There's no doubt, Monsieur Riflot, the law of petition is sacred, but it is being abused. Look at the example we just discussed: they want to tax bachelors, since they are useless for society. I feel sorry for all the married people.... I must also say that I know of no-one who has done as much for society, as I, Coquelet did.
1839
Image Not Available for Last night he has been a very naughty one, mammmmma's little darling!
Last night he has been a very naughty one, mammmmma's little darling!
1838
Image Not Available for A vanity suitably gratified. - Ah! Finally!.... the "Moniteur" has printed my "very good", naming me in full. Wonderful... at least my electorate will no longer say that I never speak up in Parliament
A vanity suitably gratified. - Ah! Finally!.... the "Moniteur" has printed my "very good", naming me in full. Wonderful... at least my electorate will no longer say that I never speak up in Parliament
1844