Artwork
Mlle. Lavoye role de la Reine de Leon dans ne touchez pas a la reine

Mlle. Lavoye role de la Reine de Leon dans ne touchez pas a la reine is a print by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The opera was first performed in Paris in 1847, and this print is a colored version of the actress in her costume.
This print shows an actress, Mademoiselle Lavoye, dressed as a queen.
She's in a role from an opera called Ne touchez pas à la Reine.
The opera was first performed in Paris in 1847, and this print is a colored version of the actress in her costume.
The print is interesting because it gives us a glimpse of what theater was like back then.
The opera it's from was written by several people, including a composer and two librettists.
You can learn more about this kind of art at the museum: Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This hand-coloured print depicts Mademoiselle Lavoye, a 19th-century actress, in the role of Reine de Léon from the opéra comique 'Ne touchez pas à la Reine'. The work captures her costume and portrayal in a production of the opera.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is Mademoiselle Lavoye as Reine de Léon, highlighting her performance in 'Ne touchez pas à la Reine'. The print provides insight into 19th-century theatrical costumes and performances.
Technique & Style
The print is hand-coloured, indicating a blend of mechanical reproduction with manual artistic enhancement to achieve vibrant, detailed visuals characteristic of period theatrical illustrations.
History & Provenance
'Ne touchez pas à la Reine' premiered at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 16 January 1847, with music by Xavier Boisselot and libretto by Eugène Scribe and Gustave Vaëz. The print's exact date is unspecified but is contemporaneous with the opera's initial performances.
Context
Part of a broader tradition of theatrical portraiture, this print reflects the popularity of opéra comique in mid-19th-century Paris and the public's interest in depictions of actors in role.
Legacy
Now housed in a museum collection (notably referenced in relation to the Victoria and Albert Museum), the print serves as a historical artifact for the study of 19th-century theatre, fashion, and printmaking techniques.
Artist & collection













