Harlequin menaces Scaramouche with a Torch 1685 - 1722

"Harlequin menaces Scaramouche with a Torch" is an etching by Claude Gillot, dating from between 1685 and 1722. The artwork depicts a scene from the Commedia dell'arte, a form of Italian comedic theatre. Harlequin, a mischievous character, threatens Scaramouche, a bumbling fool, with a burning torch. Gillot’s etching captures the slapstick humor and exaggerated gestures characteristic of the Commedia dell'arte. This image is a part of a series of prints, “The Adventures of Harlequin,” published in 1721. While the specific print dimensions are not specified, it is believed to be approximately 8 inches in height and 7 inches in width. This artwork is now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.