Artwork
Print Collection
Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist Achille Jacques Jean Marie Devéria. It dates from 1841 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This print shows Madame Rachel playing Roxanne in a play.
The print comes from a portrait by Achille Devéria.
It was made in 1841 and published in Paris.
The same season she also played Emilie and Hermione.
The play ran at His Majesty’s Theatre in London.
Madame Rachel was famous for her dramatic roles.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum next.
Overview
The print, issued by Goupil et Vibert in Paris around 1841, portrays the actress known as Madame Rachel in the role of Roxanne from Jean Racine’s tragedy Bajazet. It is derived from a portrait originally painted by Achille Devéria, translating the painted likeness into a printed image.
Subject & Meaning
Madame Rachel is depicted embodying Roxanne, a central figure in Racine’s drama, highlighting her theatrical presence and the emotive intensity associated with the character. The image serves both as a record of a specific performance and as a visual celebration of the actress’s interpretive skill.
Technique & Style
The work is a print reproduction, likely produced through lithography or a similar 19th‑century printing process, which allowed for the faithful replication of Devéria’s portraiture. The style retains the delicate line work and tonal shading characteristic of Devéria’s original drawing, while the printed medium adds a slightly flatter texture.
History & Provenance
The performance captured in the print took place at His Majesty’s Theatre in London on 26 May 1841. During the same theatrical season, Madame Rachel also appeared as Emilie in The Tragedy of Cinna and as Hermione in Andromaque, underscoring her prominence on the London stage at that time.
Context
Racine’s Bajazet, a French classical tragedy, was staged in London as part of a broader interest in French dramatic works among English audiences. Madame Rachel’s casting in multiple leading roles reflects the era’s practice of featuring celebrated actresses across a repertoire of high‑profile productions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Achille Jacques Jean Marie Devéria
Achille Devéria made delicate prints in the early 1800s. In 1841 he published a set of them in the Print Collection, and the H Beard Print Collection shows more of his work from around the same time. His images sit…
