Caricatures Of Notable People Under The Second Empire. Set Of 13 Drawings.

Caricatures of notables under Napoleon III. Suite of 13 pencil and gouache caricatures signed N. Moreau. Most 22.3 x 28.8 cm (all 46.8 x 52.5 cm). On the back, each (except one) bears a label from Maison Legoupy 5 bld de la Madeleine Paris and a few partial annotations naming the notables thus caricatured. French school.

Nicolas Moreau (1820-after 1880) was a pupil of François Edouard Picot (1786-1868) and Jules Dupré (1811-1889).
The artist exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1844 to 1883 (sources: Bénézit dictionnaire des peintres et sculpteurs).
Moreau is known for his Chasse à courre scenes and equestrian portraits, which were very popular during the Second Empire (1852-1870). Our caricatures depict generals such as General Henri Jules Bataille (1816-1882) and General Louis de Rostolan (1791-1862), artists such as Paul Avenel (1823-1902), writer and chansonnier, and more or less famous bourgeois, placed in situations of ridicule as the caricaturist may have imagined.
It's worth noting that Maison Legoupy was not only the most renowned framer in Paris at the time, but also specialized in hunting engravings and equestrian scenes.
Beyond the historical aspect of this set of caricatures, a generous witness to the political mores of the period, the decorative aspect is not to be overlooked for a lover of the Napoleon III style.
Patinated wood and gilded marie louise baguette frames of the period (a few accidents to report). Drawings in good condition. Review the fixing of some of the drawings.
2900 euros.