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G0075
Drawings: G0075
Title
Maria Bland
Technique
Watercolour
Subject
Character
Madame Bellegarde : Monsieur Tonson
Artist
Dimensions
Height: 37cm
Width: 23.5cm
Width: 23.5cm
Other materials
Pencil and watercolour on wove paper
Provenance
Charles Mathews
Other number
Mathews 310
RW/CKA 59C
RW/CKA 59C
Exhibition history
1833 London, Queen's Bazaar, Oxford Street, "Mr Mathews's Gallery of Theatrical Portraits" (310)
Engraving history
Robert Cooper for Terry's "British Theatrical Gallery pub. H Berthoud Jnr. 20 April 1822, stipple 19.5x14.3
Mme Bellegarde plays a minor role in “Monsieur Tonson”, as housekeeper to M. Morbleu, a French perruquier who lives in Seven Dials. Mathews has chosen to identify Mme Belgarde's first entrance in Act I, scene 2, "Exterior of Monsieur Marbleu's House and Shop in the Seven Dials - A Watch Box at one corner. Night." Morbleu enters and knocks at the door of his shop. The door is opened by Mme Bellegarde, and Morbleu tells her "que tu est charmante ma chere Mme. Bellegarde." She replies coyly. A more likely moment is perhaps the opening of Act II, scene 1, in which Mme Belgarde is discovered alone on stage in Marbleu's shop and sings an air, "Partant pour la Syria," which begins "Oh France, beloved native land."
Mme Bellegarde’s costume consists of a grey green-fringed skirt over a paler green dress with green fringes and pink frills. The yellow bodice has yellow strap-work, and the yellow jacket is edged in pink frills and lined in white. Her flower-pot hat is trimmed with pink roses.
Moncrieff's farce was first performed at Drury Lane on 20 September 1821, with Mrs Bland as the original Mme Bellegarde. There were 44 performances during the first season.
Mme Bellegarde’s costume consists of a grey green-fringed skirt over a paler green dress with green fringes and pink frills. The yellow bodice has yellow strap-work, and the yellow jacket is edged in pink frills and lined in white. Her flower-pot hat is trimmed with pink roses.
Moncrieff's farce was first performed at Drury Lane on 20 September 1821, with Mrs Bland as the original Mme Bellegarde. There were 44 performances during the first season.
