Who painted Cover for the Album Lithographique of 1835?

Cover for the Album Lithographique of 1835 was painted by Auguste Raffet in 1835.

Where can I see Cover for the Album Lithographique of 1835?

Cover for the Album Lithographique of 1835 is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Cover for the Album Lithographique of 1835?

Cover for the Album Lithographique of 1835 is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Cover for the Album Lithographique of 1835

Auguste Raffet , 1835

Cover for the Album Lithographique of 1835 is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Auguste Raffet. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

The scene looks like a street theater or puppet show, with a cat curled up in the background and simple props like a stool and a lantern.

This image shows a small stage with three men performing. One wears a colorful clown outfit and stands on a raised platform, another in a long coat and top hat leans on the edge, and the third, dressed as a soldier, balances on a high perch. The scene looks like a street theater or puppet show, with a cat curled up in the background and simple props like a stool and a lantern.

The title at the top reads *Album Lithographique 1835* by Raffet, suggesting this is a printed cover for a collection. The text below hints at a joke or play involving a "Bagatelle de drum," which might be a reference to a popular show or song at the time.

If you like this style, look up lithography to see how artists made prints like this.

Overview

This 1835 lithograph on wove paper serves as the cover for the *Album Lithographique*, a collection created by French artist Denis Auguste Marie Raffet.

Subject & Meaning

The illustration depicts a miniature stage scene with three performers: a clown on a platform, a gentleman in a long coat and top hat, and a soldier balancing on a perch. Accompanying elements include a cat, simple props, and a reference to a 'Bagatelle de drum', possibly alluding to a contemporary theatrical or musical piece.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the work showcases Raffet's skill in this medium, characterized by expressive lines and detailed rendering of textures and costumes, reflective of his training under Nicolas Toussaint Charlet.

History & Provenance

Created in 1835, the cover is now part of the National Gallery of Art's collection in Washington, D.C., highlighting Raffet's contribution to French lithographic art of the period.

Context

While Raffet is also known for retrospective Empire period paintings, this piece demonstrates his engagement with contemporary popular entertainment, capturing the spirit of street theater or puppet shows of 19th-century France.

Artist & collection

Artist

Auguste Raffet

Denis Auguste Marie Raffet (2 March 1804 – 16 February 1860) was a French illustrator and lithographer. He was a student of Nicolas Toussaint Charlet, and was a retrospective painter of the Empire.