Jean Bérain

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Jean Bérain
1640-1711
Theatrical Costumes
ca. 1655
Watercolor, pen and black ink, and gold, on vellum interleaved with paper.
Binding: 11 x 15 1/8 inches (280 x 385 mm); leaves: 10 3/4 x 14 3/4 inches (265 x 375 mm)
2006.15
Notes: 

Watermark: Grapes.
This is a set of twenty-two engraved designs, colored by hand, of costumes for a play or masque by Jean Bérain, designer of theatrical costumes to Louis XIV. This volume also includes a design for a title-page (unlettered) and a table of contents, which gives the title and number of each engraving.
1. The Sacrificer, minister of the Temple of Apollo, is a character in the opera "Bellerophon" ( first performed: Paris, Opera, 31 January 1679). It was created by the librettists Thomas Corneille (1625-1709) and Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle (1657-1757), and the composer Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687).
2. The Sun is a character in the opera "Phaeton" (first performed: Versailles, 6 January 1683). It was created by the librettist Philippe Quinault (1635-1688) and the composer Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687).
3. Priestess of Minerva.
4. Aegeus, King of Athens.
5. Basque.
6. Ceres is a character in the opera "Prosperine" (first performed: St Germain-en-Laye, 3 February 1680). The libretto was written by Philippe Quinault (1635-1688) and the music was composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687).
7. Alpheus is a character in the opera "Prosperine" (first performed: St Germain-en-Laye, 3 February 1680). The libretto was written by Philippe Quinault (1635-1688) and the music was composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687).
8. Nymph of the court of Diana is a character in the opera "Triumph of Love"(first performed: St Germain-en-Laye, 21 January 1681). It was created by the composer Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687) and the librettists Isaac de Benserade (1612 or 1613-1691) and Philippe Quinault (1635-1688).
9. Phaethon is a character in the opera "Prosperine" (first performed: St Germain-en-Laye, 3 February 1680). The libretto was written by Philippe Quinault (1635-1688) and the music was composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687).
10. Ascalphe is a character in the opera "Prosperine" (first performed: St Germain-en-Laye, 3 February 1680). The libretto was written by Philippe Quinault (1635-1688) and the music was composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687).
11. Medea is a character in the opera "Medea"(first performed: Paris, Opera, 4 December 1693). It was created by the librettist Thomas Corneille (1625-1709) and the composer Marc Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704).
12. Chef des combattants d'Amadis is character in the opera "Amadis", (first performed: Paris, Opera, 18 January 1684). It was created by the librettist Philippe Quinault (1635-1688) and the composer Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687).
13. Sibyl of the birth of Venus is a character in the opera "Prosperine" (first performed: St Germain-en-Laye, 3 February 1680). The libretto was written by Philippe Quinault (1635-1688) and the music was composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687).
14. Polyphemus is a character in the opera "Perseus", (first performed: Paris, Opera, 18 January 1684). It was created by the librettist Philippe Quinault (1635-1688) and the composer Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687).
15. The African.
16. Cyane is a character in the opera "Prosperine" (first performed: St Germain-en-Laye, 3 February 1680). The libretto was written by Philippe Quinault (1635-1688) and the music was composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687).
17. Minos is a character in the opera "Prosperine" (first performed: St Germain-en-Laye, 3 February 1680). The libretto was written by Philippe Quinault (1635-1688) and the music was composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687).
18. Victory is a character in the opera "Prosperine" (first performed: St Germain-en-Laye, 3 February 1680). The libretto was written by Philippe Quinault (1635-1688) and the music was composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687).
19. River-God.
20. Proteus is a character in the opera "Phaeton" created by the librettist Philippe Quinault (1635-1688) and the composer Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687).
21. Peace is a character in the opera "Perseus", (first performed: Paris, Opera, 18 January 1684). It was created by the librettist Philippe Quinault (1635-1688) and the composer Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687).
22. Deities of forests are characters in the opera "Prosperine"(first performed: St Germain-en-Laye, 3 February 1680). The libretto was written by Philippe Quinault (1635-1688) and the music was composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687).

Inscription: 

Each engraving is numbered in pen and black ink at top of leaf.

Provenance: 
J. Pierpont Morgan, before 1913.
Associated names: 

Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.

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