Pair of French hand-colored copperplate theatrical engravings, c. 1800

A pair of French hand-colored copperplate theatrical engravings, each capturing a costumed actor in a named vaudeville role. Both carry the printed publisher's imprint of Martinet, Paris ("À Paris chez Martinet, Libraire, rue du Coq").

Plate No. 164 shows Vertpré as Mr. Guillaume, captioned "dans la Pièce de ce nom," Théâtre du Vaudeville. Plate No. 66 shows Fichet as Mr. Blome, from "du Rêve, ou la Colonne de Rosbach," also Théâtre du Vaudeville. Each includes several lines of dialogue or verse set beneath the image, keyed to the scene.

The pair comes from a bound volume of 45 theatrical prints and nine drawings of French actors and opera singers in their signature roles; a copy of that same volume is held by the British Museum, London, giving these two plates a citable pedigree rather than the status of generic decorative prints.

The works have been framed in matching mahogany cross-banded frames and mounted under UV museum glass.

MAKER: Published by Martinet, Paris (confirmed via the printed imprint on both plates: "À Paris chez Martinet, Libraire, rue du Coq"). No engraver or artist name is identified.

DIMENSIONS: 10-5/8"W x 3/4"D x 12-5/8"H (framed)

ORIGIN: France

PERIOD: Circa 1800

MATERIALS: Hand-colored copperplate engraving on paper

CONDITION: Light toning to the paper but with very good color and clarity. Wear commensurate with age and use.