The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 25, 2024

The Clothes are Italian

The Clothes are Italian

1715–1716
(French, 1684–1721)
(French, 1645–1728)
Platemark: 30.5 x 21.3 cm (12 x 8 3/8 in.); Sheet: 37.2 x 26.9 cm (14 5/8 x 10 9/16 in.)
Catalogue raisonné: Dacier and Vuaflart, 130
Location: not on view

Description

The Comédie Italienne, the Italian commedia dell’arte, took up residence in Paris in the mid-17th century, incorporating French chansons and Italian arias into their performances. The troupe was banished from France in 1697 as punishment for satirizing the regime of Louis XIV. In 1715, the crown passed to Philippe II d’Orléans, who served as Regent until Louis XV attained his majority in 1723. An accomplished musician and composer of three operas, Philippe was in constant attendance at the Opéra, and even conducted royal business in a loge. In 1715, the year Watteau made his etching, Philippe reinstated the wildly popular Comédie Italienne.
  • François Heugel, Paris, b. 1922 (Lugt 3373)
  • {{cite web|title=The Clothes are Italian |url=false|author=Jean Antoine Watteau, Charles Simonneau|year=1715–1716|access-date=25 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2011.11