La Comedie Française (La Comedie)
Colour Lithograph
c.1910 (made)
c.1910 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is one of a series of eighteen lithographs created in Paris in about 1910 by a French artist who signs himself "Laviny". Their subject matter is of beautiful women dressed in fantastical and extraordinary costumes which represent various aspects of Paris. Whilst the outfits are ultra-fashionable in silhouette, they are very exaggerated and were probably not intended to be made up in real-life, but were made to amuse and for decorative purposes. The lithographs were printed by Fattorini et Crespin of Paris.
This plate represents the Comédie-Française, which is one of the few state theatres in France. The model carries two masks, one red and one black, and has three marionettes attached to her waist of a clown, a king, and a contemporary gentleman in evening dress, which represent the various themes of plays put on by the Comédie-Française.
This plate represents the Comédie-Française, which is one of the few state theatres in France. The model carries two masks, one red and one black, and has three marionettes attached to her waist of a clown, a king, and a contemporary gentleman in evening dress, which represent the various themes of plays put on by the Comédie-Française.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | La Comedie Française (La Comedie) (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | colour lithograph |
| Brief description | Laviny. "La Comedie Française (La Comedie)". Design for a fantasy costume representing an aspect of Paris. Published by Fattorini & Crespin, Paris. c. 1910 |
| Physical description | Colour lithograph showing an attractive woman dressed in an elaborate, exaggerated fancy-dress or theatrical costume representing a neighbourhood or institution of Paris. One of a set of 18. |
| Credit line | Given by the House of Worth |
| Object history | This print is part of a very large collection of reference material including fashion plates, engravings, original drawings and illustrations that were collected by the fashion design house of Paquin at the turn of the 19th/20th centuries. Many bear the stamp of Paquin's archivist at the time. They were acquired by the V&A in 1957 when, following the closure of the combined houses of Paquin and Worth, the Worth/Paquin archives and design books were donated to the Museum. |
| Summary | This is one of a series of eighteen lithographs created in Paris in about 1910 by a French artist who signs himself "Laviny". Their subject matter is of beautiful women dressed in fantastical and extraordinary costumes which represent various aspects of Paris. Whilst the outfits are ultra-fashionable in silhouette, they are very exaggerated and were probably not intended to be made up in real-life, but were made to amuse and for decorative purposes. The lithographs were printed by Fattorini et Crespin of Paris. This plate represents the Comédie-Française, which is one of the few state theatres in France. The model carries two masks, one red and one black, and has three marionettes attached to her waist of a clown, a king, and a contemporary gentleman in evening dress, which represent the various themes of plays put on by the Comédie-Française. |
| Bibliographic reference | Victoria and Albert Museum Department of Prints and Drawings and Department of Paintings Accessions 1957-1958 London: HMSO, 1964 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.22252-1957 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
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