Artwork

Rébus: "Ci-gît la vendetta surannée" (Rebus: "Here Lies the Ancient Vendetta")

Rébus: "Ci-gît la vendetta surannée" (Rebus: "Here Lies the Ancient Vendetta") is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Charles Meryon. It dates from 1863 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:"Meryon (Charles) Ier Jvr 1863." lower margin, black ink, artist's hand. "Au verso [illeg.] v. P." lower right margin, black ink, artist's hand. "MDCCCLXIII" center composition, in plate. "ANNEE" lower center composition, in plate. "REBUS" lower center margin, in plate. "C.M. fecit" lower right margin, in plate. "Pierron Imp. r. Montfaucon I." lower right margin, in plate. "73." upper right margin, graphite, unknown hand. "From the Jules Niel / + Thibaudeau collections" verso, lower left sheet, graphite, unknown hand. 315/46" verso, lower right sheet, graphite, unknown hand. "A" verso, lower right sheet, graphite, unknown hand. "LD 100 II" verso, lower right sheet, graphite, unknown hand. [French inscription] verso, black ink, unknown hand.
Markings: Marked:"LRJ" verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 1760b). "National Gallery of Art" verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 1932d). "B.M." (Bernard Buchanan Macgeorge collector's stamp) verso, black stamped ink, stamped twice. "T" (unidentified collector's stamp) verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 2412).

About this work

Overview

Rébus: 'Ci-gît la vendetta surannée' is a 1863 print by Charles Meryon, a French artist known for his etchings. The work is executed in etching and engraving on wove paper.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a ship's wheel with a cryptic message formed by letters around its circumference. Inside the wheel, a figure sits on a barrel, holding a rope. The image incorporates a rebus, a word puzzle that conceals a phrase, in this case, 'Ci-gît la vendetta surannée' (Here Lies the Ancient Vendetta).

Technique & Style

Meryon created the work using a combination of etching and engraving techniques on wove paper, resulting in a black-and-white image characterized by simple, expressive lines. His use of these mediums was influenced by his colour blindness, which led him to work almost exclusively in etching.

Context

The rebus was a device used in older prints to play with words and meanings. Meryon's incorporation of this element reflects his interest in exploring the relationship between image and text.

Rebus: "Here lies the ancient vendetta", Charles Meryon

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Artist & collection

Artist

Charles Meryon

Charles Meryon (sometimes Méryon, 23 November 1821 – 14 February 1868) was a French artist who worked almost entirely in etching, as he had colour blindness.