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A portrait of 'Mdlle Zaré Thalberg as Zerlina in Don Giovanni'

London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company

1870

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

A portrait of 'Mdlle Zaré Thalberg as Zerlina in Don Giovanni' is a 1870 photographic by London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company
When & what style?: 1870 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This is a photograph of a woman dressed in a theatrical costume. She wears a dark jacket with white trim and a white skirt. Her hair is styled with flowers. The woman's pose and attire suggest she is portraying a character from an opera. The photograph is rendered in a realistic style, with attention to detail in the subject's clothing and accessories. If you're interested in learning more about the style of this photograph, you might want to explore the movement of Realism.

The story of this work

Overview

The photograph is a carte-de-visite portrait of Zaré Thalberg in her role as Zerlina in Don Giovanni, taken by the London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company in 1870. She stands with her body angled left and hands clasped in front, captured in a three-quarter view. The image was part of the Windsor Collection, previously held at Windsor Castle before being noted by Royal Librarian Owen Morshead. Thalberg, an English soprano born in 1858 and deceased in 1915, is depicted in stage costume.

Read the full account in the museum source.