A Bravura Air. Mandane (December 22, 1801, Met-Objekt 4339)
Original title: A Bravura Air. Mandane
kurzbeschreibung
A singer in lavish costume, arms flung wide and mouth open on a note — that is how James Gillray stages 'A Bravura Air. Mandane.' The print dates from December 22, 1801, and survives as a hand-colored etching.
Description
Golden chains and floral ornaments lie over the figure's gown, and a feathered bonnet sits on her head. Astonishment or surprise shapes her expression while both arms stay outstretched. Behind her a plain landscape rests under a clear sky. Pastel tones govern the palette, and the light falls evenly across the surface.
Context
Gillray, already known in 1801 for his satirical caricatures, here takes aim at Thomas Arne's opera 'Artaxerxes.' In it the character Mandane sings a virtuoso aria. The artist mocks the performance practice of his day and the exaggerated gestures of its singers.
Impact
Overdone facial expression and gesture push the picture toward comedy and caricature. The pastel coloring takes some of the edge off the satire and lends the sheet a lightness.
Technique
An etching forms the base, colored by hand afterward. Finely drawn lines and visible color transitions reveal the craftsman's work of the coloring.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)