Rich painting depicts a humorous and satirical scene of mid-19th century village French barber shop peopled by three costumed monkeys. One monkey is being shaved by the barber monkey, and a third sits nearby. The painting is well detailed including posters and political graffiti on the walls, barber accoutrements, violin, and furniture. The open door of the barber shop looks out on a village street scene. The painting is enhanced by dimensional details including the ceiling and street scene. There is a working clock on the barber shop wall, and a clock mounted within the gilt frame. The gold leaf wooden frame is a rich contradiction to the simple furnishings within the shop. A very rare tableau mecanique; only three of this style are known to exist and each is different. The presentation of monkeys in humanistic poses was a popular motif in France as early as the reign of Louis XIV when the decorator Berain used the theme in his arabesques. During the Regency period the appearance of monkeys in human scenes was allegorical and spiritual. Finally, during the mid-19th century the presentation became one of amusement and irony. Monkeys in human form and poses appeared in paintings, statuary and as tableau mecaniques, and were often a teasing mockery of the pomposities of the bourgeoisie. Tableaux mecaniques (paintings with mechanical movements and music) could be activated either by spring or sand-driven mechanisms. Although the actual mechanism appears simplistic, the action, usually with coordinate music, is fairly intricate and realistic. Few can be absolutely identified by their maker, although stylistically some can be attributed to Tarin and occasionally the name of the selling merchant appears on a piece. The actual paintings are almost never signed by the artist, French, attributed to Tarin, Circa 1850,32" x 36" (81 x 91 cm). Two clocks, four movements. Two tunes.