Astonishing Pair Of Small Burlesque Portraits: Italian Comedy. Eighteenth Century.

Astonishing pair of small burlesque portraits on wooden panels. Louis XV period. Eighteenth century. These are “actors” performing on stage and both singing a song. It was in a court in mourning which had deserted Versailles that in May 1716 the Italian actors arrived in Paris. The Hôtel de Bourgogne, closed since 1697, is not yet ready to welcome them. They then play at the Opera. The shows presented at the Comédie-Italienne were enriched with parodies such as Oedipus travesti performed in April 1719. They mixed spoken and sung passages, to fashionable tunes (vaudevilles) then to original tunes (ariettes). ). However, it was not until 1762 that the Comédie-Italienne was officially created. This integrates the repertoire of the previous Opéra-Comique. It is the great era of the success of Carlo Goldoni and Favart...Charming scene in the style of Italian opera. “La donna è di profilo” and “l’uomo stra affrontando”. Note traces of inscription in pen on the back...The frames are contemporary.