Not currently on display at the V&A

H Beard Print Collection

Print
1772 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

One of a collection of 26 theatrical lithographs. This shows the playwright and comic actor Bellecour in the role of Le Joueur in La Comédie du mêmenom.

The lithographer is not named but all the lithographs appear to have been published by Robert Sayer, London (1772).

Trained as a painter Bellecour rose to become one of the leading actors of acting company, The Comédie-Française. This company was founded by a decree of Louis XIV on 24 August 1680 to merge the only two Parisian acting troupes of the time, the troupe of the hôtel Guénégaud and that of the hôtel de Bourgogne. The repertoire at that time consisted of the collection of theatrical works by Molière and Jean Racine, along with a few works by Pierre Corneille, Paul Scarron and Jean Rotrou. Its first theatre was cited at the Hôtel de Guénégaud.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleH Beard Print Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Lithography
Brief description
One of a bound collection of lithographs of French Dramatic Characters, published by Robert Sayer, London, 1772. This shows Mr. Bellecour as Le Joueur in La Comédie du mêmenom. Harry Beard Collection.
Physical description
Printed in the centre of the page this full length lithograph shows a profile image of a man, both hands in his pocket and dressed in the tricorne hat, knee breeches and three quarter length jacket of an eighteenth century gentleman. He also carries a sword at his hip.
Dimensions
  • Height: 14.7cm
  • Width: 11.7cm
Credit line
Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard
Subject depicted
Literary referenceLa Comédie du mêmenom
Summary
One of a collection of 26 theatrical lithographs. This shows the playwright and comic actor Bellecour in the role of Le Joueur in La Comédie du mêmenom.

The lithographer is not named but all the lithographs appear to have been published by Robert Sayer, London (1772).

Trained as a painter Bellecour rose to become one of the leading actors of acting company, The Comédie-Française. This company was founded by a decree of Louis XIV on 24 August 1680 to merge the only two Parisian acting troupes of the time, the troupe of the hôtel Guénégaud and that of the hôtel de Bourgogne. The repertoire at that time consisted of the collection of theatrical works by Molière and Jean Racine, along with a few works by Pierre Corneille, Paul Scarron and Jean Rotrou. Its first theatre was cited at the Hôtel de Guénégaud.
Collection
Accession number
S.523:4-2010

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Record createdMay 11, 2010
Record URL
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