Artwork
A Naples - Le meilleur des rois... (1st plate)
A Naples - Le meilleur des rois... (1st plate) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1851 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1851, this lithograph by Honoré Daumier belongs to his series of politically charged prints. Executed on stone, the image presents a figure in an elaborate military costume, poised on a windowsill with a cityscape, river and bridge visible beyond. The title, rendered in French, injects a satirical tone that aligns with Daumier’s broader critique of authority.
Subject & Meaning
The central character, dressed in a richly adorned uniform with a feathered hat and a heavily buttoned coat, leans casually against the sill, suggesting a self‑assured or pompous demeanor. By juxtaposing this figure with a distant urban vista, Daumier hints at a commentary on the pretensions of military or royal power, employing irony through the phrase "Le meilleur des rois…" (the best of kings).
Technique & Style
Daumier employed the lithographic process, drawing directly onto a limestone plate with greasy crayon. The lines are deliberately loose and sketch‑like, conveying immediacy and spontaneity. This rapid handling of the medium underscores the work’s satirical intent, allowing the artist to produce multiple copies for wide dissemination.
History & Provenance
The print emerged during a turbulent era in French politics, a time when Daumier contributed regularly to satirical journals such as La Caricature and Le Charivari. While specific ownership records are limited, the work has been catalogued among Daumier’s 19th‑century prints and appears in several museum collections dedicated to graphic art.
Context
Mid‑19th‑century France experienced frequent shifts between monarchy, empire, and republic, providing fertile ground for Daumier’s social criticism. His lithographs functioned as visual editorials, reaching a broad audience through inexpensive reproduction. This piece reflects the artist’s ongoing engagement with the political discourse of his day, using humor to question authority.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Honoré-Victorin Daumier was a French painter, sculptor, and printmaker, whose many works offer commentary on the social and political life in France, from the Revolution of 1830 to the fall of the Second French Empire in 1870.
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A Naples - Le meilleur des rois... (2nd plate)