Portret van Antoinette Lemonnier als Elisabeth in de opera Leicester 1824

Alexandre-Marie Colin created this print of Antoinette Lemonnier as Elisabeth in the opera Leicester. The image presents Lemonnier, a singer at the Théâtre Royal Italien, in character, connecting the world of the opera with the world of printed portraiture. Prints like this one had immense social importance in the 19th century. Before photography became widespread, prints were a primary way to disseminate images of public figures. This image of Lemonnier is derived from the Romantic period, and the print media allowed for those Romantic ideas around celebrity to circulate. Note the importance of the theatrical costume; the fur trim, the feathered headpiece, the lace sleeves. These aspects allowed the viewer to identify Lemonnier not just as a performer, but as a specific character. As an art historian, I would look for archival theater records and reviews of Leicester to better understand Lemonnier’s performance. In doing so, we can better understand the way theatrical productions were translated into a visual culture for mass consumption.