Sketch for a stage design.
Oblong 4to. Black ink on paper.
€ 1,200.00
An ink sketch of a stage design prepared for Jean Cocteau's tragic play "Renaud et Armide", which premiered at the Comédie Française in 1943. The drawing shows the cave of the magician Armide; the charming profile of a woman hovering above the cave recalls the beautiful costumes that would be made for the play. Bérard also created the fine lithographs that illustrate Cocteau's book "Renaud et Armide", published by Gallimard that same year.
On Jean Cocteau's personal stationery with the printed address "36, Rue de Montpensier" (Cocteau's mezzanine overlooked the gardens of the Palais Royal in Paris). Some discoloration due to unprofessional tape repairs on the verso; several extensive edge tears and a missing corner.
An exciting and intimate association piece, uniting two brilliant artistic friends. We are indebted to Philippe Mianes for his valuable assistance in identifying this sketch.
