Heur et Malheur (Happiness and Woe)
early 19th century
Medium
metalwork
Classification
metalwork
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Sarah Cooper Hewitt
Accession Number
1907-17-145
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Raymond Gayrard’s *Heur et Malheur (Happiness and Woe, created in the early century, offers a compelling example of French metalwork from the post-Revolutionary era. Born in 1777 and active until 1858, Gayrard worked during a time of profound political and social change in France. His choice of metal as a medium allowed for intricate detail and durability, qualities prized in both decorative objects and commemorative pieces that captured the era’s shifting fortunes. The title itself hints at the artwork’s thematic depth, contrasting joy and sorrow in a manner typical of Romantic sensibilities...