Who painted Melle. Rachel, dans Adrienne Lecouvreur?

Melle. Rachel, dans Adrienne Lecouvreur was painted by Unknown in 1849.

Where can I see Melle. Rachel, dans Adrienne Lecouvreur?

Melle. Rachel, dans Adrienne Lecouvreur is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Melle. Rachel, dans Adrienne Lecouvreur?

Melle. Rachel, dans Adrienne Lecouvreur is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Melle. Rachel, dans Adrienne Lecouvreur

Unknown , 1849

Melle. Rachel, dans Adrienne Lecouvreur is a print by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

The actress is Elisabeth Rachel Félix, also known as Mademoiselle Rachel, and she's playing the title role in a play called Adrienne Lecouvreur.

The print shows an actress on stage.
She's dressed in a fancy costume.
The actress is Elisabeth Rachel Félix, also known as Mademoiselle Rachel, and she's playing the title role in a play called Adrienne Lecouvreur.

This play was first staged in 1849, and Mademoiselle Rachel created the title role. She was a famous actress at the time.
The print is hand colored, which makes it more interesting.

You can learn more about this type of art at the museum: Victoria and Albert Museum.

Overview

This hand‑coloured print depicts the celebrated 19th‑century French actress Elisabeth Rachel Félix, known onstage as Mademoiselle Rachel, in costume as the heroine of Auguste‑Eugène Scribe’s drama Adrienne Lecouvreur. The image captures a moment from the original 1849 production at the Théâtre de la République, when Rachel first originated the role.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait presents Rachel in the titular part of Adrienne Lecouvreur, a tragic figure from the early 18th‑century French stage. By portraying the actress in her most acclaimed role, the print emphasizes her reputation for emotional intensity and her contribution to the revival of classical French tragedy in the mid‑1800s.

Technique & Style

Executed as a print that was subsequently hand‑coloured, the work combines the precision of line engraving with the subtle hues added by hand, a common practice in the period to enhance the visual appeal of theatrical portraits. The colour application highlights the elaborate costume and stage lighting, lending a sense of immediacy to the scene.

History & Provenance

The image was produced shortly after the 1849 debut of Adrienne Lecouvreur, likely intended for distribution among theatre patrons and admirers of Rachel. While the specific publisher is not recorded, such prints were typical souvenirs of popular performances and often circulated in Parisian artistic circles.

Context

Rachel’s performance in Scribe’s play marked a pivotal moment in French theatrical history, as she helped re‑establish the tragic heroine on the Romantic stage. The print reflects the 19th‑century fascination with celebrity portraiture, where actors were celebrated in the same manner as painters and composers.