Messieurs, voici la vérité, je suis un petit voleur, mais Mr. Macaire en est un grand...... J’ai chipotté, chipotaillé des riens, il a grinché, floué, agioté sur une grande échelle, j’ai gagné la misère et la police correctionnelle, il a gagné des millions et il m’accuse. Le tribunal n’ayant pas à juger le grand voleur, condamne le petit, et Macaire se retire la tête haute.

Trustman, Benjamin A., Trustman, Julia M. · 1838

Robert Macaire is being judged. Robert Macaire may seem to be a realistic figure, however one should remember that in reality he is an artificial personality, created in 1823 by Benjamin Antier for his play „ L’Auberge des Adrets“. The breakthrough came in 1834, when Frédéric Lemaitre used the names of Macaire and his somewhat simple partner Serres-Bertrand for his various comedies in Paris. he figure of Macaire goes back as far as 1371, when - as the legend goes - Aubri de Montdidier, a nobleman from the court of Charles V was assassinated by Macaire. The murder was vindicated by his dog, the only witness of the assassination. A duel between the dog and Macaire, who was armed with a cudgel, should settle the case. The dog killed Macaire, who confessed the murder before he died. Philipon was the author of all the texts of this series. It should be noted that Daumier did not monogram or sign the prints, presumable because Philipon wanted to document his position as author of the texts and as “inventor” of the series.