In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the winning of a medal at an exhibition or a decoration in an official order invariably led to the staging of grand banquets, just like anniversaries and other festive events. At these dinners much attention was paid to the menus, and they were regularly illuminated in etching or lithography by artists who were friends. Two such menus by Ensor are known: "The menu for Charles Vos" and "The menu for Ernest Rousseau". Ensor made the first menu on the occasion of the festive inauguration of the 'Vos-Hall', the gallery and auction room that Ensor's friend Charles Vos opened in Brussels on 26 December 1896. "The menu for Ernest Rousseau" was made by Ensor on the occasion of the wedding of Ernest Rousseau Jr.
| Artist | James EnsorRKDVIAFWikidata |
|---|---|
| Title | Menu for Ernest Rousseau |
| Date | 1896 |
| Period | 19th century |
| Medium and support | etchingAAT |
| Signatures, inscriptions, and markings | signatures (names) bottom left: J. Ensor |
| signature and year bottom right: James Ensor 1896 | |
| inscription centre: Menu / Huîtres de Zélande / Potage Bisque d'écrevisses / Petites Caisses à la Reine / Filet de boeuf à la Clamart / Poulardes à la Financière / Selle de chevreuil sauce poivrade / Céleris aus Jus / Perdraux rôtis. Compote / Aspics de foie gras / Glace / Fruits.Dessert / 10 novembre 1896 | |
| inscription on the reverse: AT / AT | |
| inscription on the reverse: bX [of R] l / Collection Ernst Rousseau. / après [...] / sbl / [...] / 2 menus Ernst Rousseau. | |
| Collection | print room |
| Object type | etching AAT |
| Inventory number | 1998-B-109-1 |
| Acquisition credit | purchase Taevernier, Auguste (coll.) 1998 |
| Current whereabouts | Work currently not on display |
| Permalink | https://mskgent.be/collection/work/data/1998-B-109-1 |
| IIIF Manifest | https://imagehub.mskgent.be/iiif/3/4146/manifest.json |
