Mademoiselle Clairon as Medea.

Drawing, black and grey ink, black and grey wash, heightened with white, 57,0 x 44,0 cm (visible), blue laid paper, unsigned (some wormholes, few creases).

Under passe-partout and gilt frame (not studied outside frame). Ms. note on back of frame: "Sophie Berdid (?) 1789".

Large refined drawing of the actrice Mademoiselle Clairon (1723-1803) as Medea in the 5th act of "Médéé" by Pierre Corneille (1606-1684). Two related paintings by Carle Vanloo (1705-1765) dated 1759 and 1760 are in the Sansoucci Park in Potsdam (Neues Palais, inv. GK I 5312 and GK I 1697). Our drawing is based on the second painting or its engraved counterpart, see for example an impression in London (British Museum, inv. 1870,0625.749).