Chris Beetles Gallery

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'L'etat C'est Moi!!!'

Sir John Tenniel (1820-1914)

SIGNED WITH MONOGRAM AND DATED 1881
INSCRIBED WITH TITLE AND PUBLICATION DETAILS ON ORIGINAL MOUNT
SIGNED AND INSCRIBED 'AN ORIGINAL SKETCH FOR THE PUNCH CARTOON' ON REVERSE OF ORIGINAL MOUNT
PENCIL
8 1/4 X 6 1/4 INCHES
PROVENANCE: MARY GREEN (NEE TENNIEL), THE ARTIST'S SISTER, AND THENCE BY DESCENT
ILLUSTRATED: PUNCH, 26 NOVEMBER 1881, PAGE 247
EXHIBITED: THE ILLUSTRATORS,
THE BRITISH ART OF ILLUSTRATION 1870-2010, NO 56

'M. Gambetta had at last engaged himself in the formation of a Ministry, in which he himself was Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Times said "The (German) newspapers generally comment on the Gambetta Cabinet as representing only himself. The head of the 'Grand Ministere,' like 'le Gand Monarque', seemed tempted to say, 'L'Etat c'est moi!'" – November, 1881'