"Brennus" from The Complete Works of Béranger
Medium
Wood engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 8 5/8 × 5 1/2 in. (21.9 × 14 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection. The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959
Accession Number
59.500.687(42)
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Visitors to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings Prints department will encounter "Brennus," a captivating wood engraving from 1836, featured in *The Complete Works of Béranger*. This illustration Pierre Jean de Béranger, the French lyricist whose witty, often subversive songs critiqued politics and society during the Restoration and July Monarchy eras. "Brennus" likely depicts the ancient Gallic chieftain who famously sacked Rome in 390—a nod to Béranger's penchant for blending history with patriotic fervor in his verses. Crafted by a stellar ensemble including satirical master J.J. Grandville, military artist Auguste Raffet, and engravers L. Chauchefoin, Fournier, and Perrotin, the print exemplifies 19th-century French book illustration. Wood engraving, a precise technique using end-grain wood blocks, allowed for intricate details and high-volume printing, making fine art accessible in popular editions. At 8⅝ × 5½ inches, its compact size suited intimate reading experiences. This piece captures the Romantic era's fascination with national heroes and caricature, reflecting France's cultural revival amid political turbulence. Part of The Elisha Whittelsey Collection (acquired 1959), it invites us to appreciate how illustration amplified Béranger's voice, bridging literature and visual storytelling for everyday audiences.
About the Artist
L. Chauchefoin|J. J. Grandville|Auguste Raffet|Fournier & Perrotin|Pierre Jean de Béranger (French|French|French|French|French) · 1800 |1803 |1804 | |1780 –1900 |1847 |1860 | |1857
French|French, Nancy 1803–1847 Vanves|French, Paris 1804–1860 Genoa|French|French, Paris 1780–1857 Paris