PETER FOSTER ANTIQUES

SPECIALIST IN EARLY BRITISH AND EUROPEAN CERAMICS

19th CENTURY

      RACHEL - THE GREAT 19TH CENTURY FRENCH ACTRESS

Fig. 1                                         Fig. 2

 A LARGE (30cm)AND RARE 19THC BISQUE PORCELAIN FIGURE OF THE FAMOUS FRENCH ACTRESS RACHEL IN HER GREATEST ROLE AS “PHEDRE’ (Fig.1) IN RACINE’S DRAMA. SIGNED BY THE GREAT  FRENCH SCULPTOR JEAN-AUGUST BARRE AND DATED 1847. AFTER BARRE’S IVORY FIGURE (Fig.2) WHICH WAS COMMISSIONED BY RACHEL IN 1847 AND NOW IN THE LOUVRE MUSEUM PARIS. FROM THE MANUFACTORY OF JEAN GILLE PARIS. BLUE JG PAD MARK TO THE BASE. I HAVE HAD ONE TINY BEAD REPLACED ON HER TIARA AND A TINY CHIP TO ONE FINGER RESTORED OTHERWISE PERFECT

Lithograph by Alexandre Lacauchie with  Rachel on the left.

Stage design for the  5 Act drama “Virginie” at the Theatre Francais. 

INCLUDED in the price of the figure is:

• A copy of the fascinating biography, ”RACHEL” by Mrs Arthur Kennard published London,1885.

• An interesting signed and dated original letter by Rachel, from London in 1850 to a friend in Paris, with an English translation by Alliance Francaise Sydney. 

• A photogravure of Rachel as the Muse of Greek tragedy by Jean Leon Gerome

• The coloured lithograph by Alexandre Lacauchie as illustrated above.