Research Catalog

Commedia dell'arte

Title: Commedia dell'arte [graphic].
Publication: [16--? and later]

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Status	Format	Access	Call Number	Item Location
Request Appointment Available - Can be used on site. Please visit New York Public Library - Performing Arts Research Collections to submit a request in person.	Still image	Supervised use	*MGZFY Com 1-26	Performing Arts Research Collections - Dance

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Additional Authors

Description

9 prints (8 sheets) : engraving, etching, aquatint, hand-colored; 46 x 37 cm. or smaller.
8 prints : engraving, etching, b&w ;
2 prints : etching, hand-colored ;
1 print : aquatint, b&w ;
3 prints : lithograph, hand-colored ;
1 print : lithograph, b&w ;
1 print : lithograph, one color ;
2 photomechanical prints : b&w or one color ;

Summary

Representations of Harlequin and other stock characters of the commedia dell'arte. They are sometimes depicted in the context of theatrical performances or Carnival or other festive occasions. This collection has been culled from a variety of sources and includes theatrical prints of the type called "penny plain, tuppence colored"; toy theatre figures; illustrations from books and periodicals; and illustrated music sheets. The collection has been arranged in six groups: Single figures, Harlequin; Single figures, others; Pairs; Theatrical performances; Carnival and other festivals; Others.

Donor/Sponsor

Dance Committee Purchase Fund.

Subjects

Genre/Form

Engravings.
Etchings.
Lithographs.
Aquatints.

Note

Title devised by cataloger.

Funding (note)

Gandolin, Polichinelle [et] Pantalon, Scapino, Cap[tain] Zerbino, and Harlequinade purchased with funds from the Committee for the Jerome Robbins Dance Division.

Source (note)

Lillian Moore.
Lincoln Kirstein

Biography (note)

The theatrical performances depicted in this collection may include: Harlequin and Mother goose, or the golden egg, a comic pantomime by Thomas Dibdin, first performed at the Covent Garden theatre, London, 1806; Arlequin im Schutz der Zauberei, an Italian pantomime in three acts, 181-?; L'oncle d'Amerique, a play by Eugène Scribe, first performed in 1826, probably seen here in a 1903 production at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris. The production of Uncle Tom's cabin illustrated by Green's characters may be Uncle Tom and Lucy Neal, or Harlequin, Liberty and Slavery, performed at the Whitechapel Theatre, London, in 1852.
Commedia dell'arte was a form of popular theatre that originated in Italy in the 16th century. Performed by professional players, often in outdoor settings, it was largely improvised, and centered around stock characters such as the servant Arlecchino, later called Harlequin. Other favorite characters included Colombina (Columbine), Pantalone, and Pulcinella (Punchinello). Some characters wore closely-fitting masks that covered the upper half of the face; others were not masked. Physical action, music, and dance were important components of the performance. Traveling troupes carried the commedia dell'arte throughout Europe, particularly to France and England, where further developments and refinements were introduced. In England, for example, the commedia dell'arte gave rise to the harlequinade, which depicted the antics of the lovers Harlequin and Columbine in mime, music, and dance. In France, the character called Pierrot evolved from a comic servant into a symbol of the alienated artist. Characters from the commedia dell'arte were also incorporated into other theatre, dance, and music forms, and became favorite subjects of the visual arts.

Source of Description (note)

The Bibliothèque National of France, which also holds a copy of Polichinelle [et] Pantalon, dates it between 1638-1640.

Contents

Single figures, Harlequin (5 images on 4 sheets): [Robert Honner as Harlequin] -- [Robert Honner as Harlequin, same image but different coloration. On the verso is a female figure, possibly Columbine] -- Mr. G. French as Harlequin, London, pub[lished] by J. Redington -- Mr. Ellar as Harlequin, London, published by J.L. Marks / Marks fe.
Single figures, others (6 sheets): Gandolin -- Pulcinella -- Mademoiselle Rosier as Columbine; No. 44; London, pub. by A. Park -- Debureau [i.e., Jean Gaspard Deburau as Pierrot]; Paris, Maicham / Alexandre Lacauchie; Litho de Rigo Frères -- Miss Romer as Columbine, Theatre Royal Covent Garden / Wageman del.; Holl sculpt. -- Le miroir de Pierrot / [Pierre] Carrier-Belleuse.
Pairs (4 sheets): Polichinelle [et] Pantalon [includes verses in French] -- Scapino, Cap[tain] Zerbino [from the series The asinine dances; in the foreground the two characters greet each other; in the background they fight a duel] / [Jacques Callot] -- The taste: a dialogue [illustrated sheet music for accompanied voice, possibly from The musical entertainer; depicts Punchinello and Colombina?] / music, Handel; G. Bickham junr. sculp. -- Arlequin et Arlequine / M. de Solar.
Theatrical performances (8 sheets): [Two images on one sheet; at left, actresses and their admirers in a dressing room, signed C. Schule, 1802; at right, Harlequin on stage, blowing bubbles from a pipe, with a playbill? in his right hand reading "Das Dona Weibche"] -- Harlequin and Mother Goose: or The golden egg, publish'd March 25, 1807, by Laurie & Whittle, 53, Fleet Street, London [ten images on one sheet, depicting scenes from the pantomime; possibly a writing sheet] -- Arlequin als Skelett [Harlequin in a skeleton costume] und Pierrot in der Pantomime, Arlequin um Schutz der Zauberei, zu finden bei dem Maler Weise -- Green's characters in Uncle Tom's cabin, plate 5 [toy theatre figures and scenes, including Harlequin and Columbine] -- Le théâtre des Funambules [two women onstage, one with dark-colored wings and a crescent moon on her headdress, with a masked Harlequin lying between them] / [Horace?] Castelli del., Lechard sculp. -- Harlequinade [25 images on one sheet, including a large figure of Harlequin dancing with a woman at center, dancers, musicians, clowns, acrobats, Punch and Judy with their baby, from one or more pantomimes, ca. 1860] -- Ballets de L'oncle d'Amerique, L'art du théâtre, March 1904 [six photomechanical images within one plate mark; depicts Harlequin, played by a woman en travesti, and others] / Cl. Manuel -- [Outdoor performance by actors in costumes suggesting the commedia dell'arte, watched by adults, children, and dogs].
Carnival and other festivals (3 sheets): Das Carneval in Rom -- Venezia. Carnevale. Venise. Carnaval / Loder del.; E. Rouargue sc. -- La fête des [illegible] de Munich [title penciled on the verso].
Others (1 sheet): [Interior with vaulted ceiling; in the foreground, a line of actors? including Harlequin].

Call Number

*MGZFY Com 1-26

OCLC

825771158

Title

Commedia dell'arte [graphic].

Imprint

[16--? and later]

Funding

Gandolin, Polichinelle [et] Pantalon, Scapino, Cap[tain] Zerbino, and Harlequinade purchased with funds from the Committee for the Jerome Robbins Dance Division.

Biography

The theatrical performances depicted in this collection may include: Harlequin and Mother goose, or the golden egg, a comic pantomime by Thomas Dibdin, first performed at the Covent Garden theatre, London, 1806; Arlequin im Schutz der Zauberei, an Italian pantomime in three acts, 181-?; L'oncle d'Amerique, a play by Eugène Scribe, first performed in 1826, probably seen here in a 1903 production at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris. The production of Uncle Tom's cabin illustrated by Green's characters may be Uncle Tom and Lucy Neal, or Harlequin, Liberty and Slavery, performed at the Whitechapel Theatre, London, in 1852.

Commedia dell'arte was a form of popular theatre that originated in Italy in the 16th century. Performed by professional players, often in outdoor settings, it was largely improvised, and centered around stock characters such as the servant Arlecchino, later called Harlequin. Other favorite characters included Colombina (Columbine), Pantalone, and Pulcinella (Punchinello). Some characters wore closely-fitting masks that covered the upper half of the face; others were not masked. Physical action, music, and dance were important components of the performance. Traveling troupes carried the commedia dell'arte throughout Europe, particularly to France and England, where further developments and refinements were introduced. In England, for example, the commedia dell'arte gave rise to the harlequinade, which depicted the antics of the lovers Harlequin and Columbine in mime, music, and dance. In France, the character called Pierrot evolved from a comic servant into a symbol of the alienated artist. Characters from the commedia dell'arte were also incorporated into other theatre, dance, and music forms, and became favorite subjects of the visual arts.

Local Note

Cataloging funds provided by Friends of Jerome Robbins Dance Division.

The print titled Debureau was published as part of the Galerie des artistes dramatiques, Paris, 1841-1842; see: *MGY-Res.+ 78-4330.

Source

[Two prints of Robert Honner as Harlequin], Miss Romer as Columbine, [Actresses in dressing room; Harlequin], Venezia, Carnevale Gift; Lillian Moore.

Mr. Ellar as Harlequin, Debureau, Pulcinella, Mademoiselle Rosier as Columbine, The taste, [Outdoor performance] Gift; Lincoln Kirstein, 1968.

Added Author

Bickham, George, 1706?-1771. Artist

Callot, Jacques, 1592-1635. Artist

Carrier-Belleuse, Pierre, 1851-1932. Artist

Lacauchie, Alexandre. Artist

Lechard. Engraver

Marks, John Lewis. Artist

Rouargue, Emile, 1795-1865. Engraver

Schule, C. (Christian), 1764-1816. Artist

Solar, M. de. Artist

Redington, J. (John), 1819-1876. Publisher

Wageman, Thomas Charles, approximately 1787-1863. Artist

Holl, William, 1807-1871. Engraver

Laurie & Whittle. Publisher

Moore, Lillian. Donor

Kirstein, Lincoln, 1907-1996. Donor

Committee for the Jerome Robbins Dance Division. Funder

Research Call Number

*MGZFY Com 1-26

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