DiotimosReading Desk

Art

Hand-held eyeglass

lorgnon

An eyeglass held up to inspect something; Rochemaure’s is gold and has two branches.

From the book

The Gods Are Athirst

Anatole France · Diotimos Editions · 2026

Browse this book’s lexicon →

Meaning

Lemma.

An eyeglass held up to inspect something; Rochemaure’s is gold and has two branches. She uses it both to examine Gamelin’s paintings and to encourage him by a gesture. Looking is not purely detached criticism: the narrator has already said the artist’s beauty disposes her to admire his art.

Places to read

  1. Chapter VII, paragraph 4Frenchson lorgnon d’or à deux branches: Her gold double eyeglass. Rochemaure examines the canvases.
  2. Chapter VII, paragraph 8Frenchen soulevant son lorgnon: Raising her eyeglass. The gesture invites Gamelin to continue explaining his painting.