Drole Politicians
TRAVIÈS, (Traviès de Villers, Charles-Joseph) (Wülflingen, Switzerland, February 21, 1804 – Paris, August 13, 1859), Drole Politicians, c. 1845 hand painted lithograph. Published by Aubert [with signature lower left image, letters and addresses in margin below, in the plate]. In very good condition, small paper loss left margin, printed on a tan wove paper with wide margins, 10 x 7 1/2, the sheet 13 1/2 x 10 1/4 inches, archival window matting.
A fine impression of this amusing portrait, skillfully hand colored; a print sur blanc (on wove paper, no lettering verso).
This balding establishment figure, himself surely a member of the Chamber of Deputies, expresses amusement at the appearance of a fellow member who has a somewhat similar appearance.
Traviès came from the atelier of François Joseph Hein at the Beaux-Arts, debuted as a genre painter at the Salon of 1823, then dedicated himself to industrial drawing, cloth and wallpaper. He made himself a name with his creation of the figure of the hunchback Mayeux. Collaborator at “La Caricature” and “Le Charivari”. He also did illustrations for novels by Balzac (1842-1855). (Note: I am indebted to the invaluable Daumier Register and associated website for background on Traviès, which I’ve taken the liberty of quoting verbatim.)