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GAVARNI, Paul [Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier] (1804-1866)
Souvenirs de carnaval. Paris: Rittner et Goupil, [1837].
Exceedingly rare suite of whimsical suite of prints depicting French society enjoying the foibles and vices of carnival. Garvani, the pen name of Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier, was a highly successful French illustrator and his work is accredited with capturing the essence of excess that enraptured Paris in the 19th century. Souvenirs de carnaval is given the date '1837' based on the date inscribed on the stone on plate 5. The majority of Gavarni’s later works centred around serious subject matters; they sought to unpack the failings of French familial life and directly and pointedly critiqued Parisian society. However, his earlier published prints, as seen with the present suite, displayed a more whimsical and light satirical take on the popular pleasures of the Capital, capturing the debauchery and decadence of high society life. RBH only lists one copy at auction in the last 50 years. Armelhault & Bocher 308; Beraldi VII, 50 ; Bobins III, 936.
Folio (525 x 337mm). 6 lithographic plates, coloured by a contemporary hand and heightened with gum arabic (scattered spotting). Original front pink printed wrapper with vignette by Gavarni; contemporary red half roan, upper cover with label titled in gilt (extremities rubbed and occasionally scratched, head and foot of spine worn).
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