Antique Carved Walnut Sculpture of Virginie Dèjazet as duc de Richelieu after Emile Thomas
£1,600
A finely carved walnut figure showing the wasp-waisted actress Virginie Dèjazet in her famous role as the duc de Richelieu in the play Les Premières Armes de Richelieu shown standing, en travestie in an elaborate coat and with expectant expression
Height 38 cm (15 inches)
Width 16 cm (6.25 inches)
Depth 15 cm (6 inches)
French. mid 19th Century
The play Les Premières Armes de Richelieu was a two-act piece written by Jean-François Alfred Bayard (1796-1853) and first produced in December 1839 with Mlle. Déjazet, already famous for playing male characters, in the title role
Plaster versions of the same figure can be seen at Burton Constable hall, Yorkshire and Musée Carnavalet, Histoire de Paris, France (illustrated)
