Mister Vulture
In 1839, the editor Pierre-Jules Hetzel conceived of a book project expressly as a vehicle for J. J. Grandville’s illustrations. A collection of short stories by a variety of authors, "Scènes de la vie privée et publique des animaux: Etudes de mœurs contemporaines," (Scenes from the private and public life of animals: Studies of contemporary customs) offers a satirical critique of human society from the point of view of animals. In the first story, a hare finds lodging with a lowly government clerk. Here, Grandville depicts the poor clerk’s landlord, a portly Mr. Vulture, who clutches a rent receipt in his hand. The locked coffer at lower right also signals the greed of the property owner.
Artwork Details
- Title: Mister Vulture
- Artist: J. J. Grandville (French, Nancy 1803–1847 Vanves)
- Date: 1840
- Medium: Pen and ink
- Dimensions: Sheet: 5 5/8 in. × 5 in. (14.3 × 12.7 cm)
- Classification: Drawings
- Credit Line: Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Michael Schlossberg, 2019
- Object Number: 2019.164.1
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.