Portrait of Mélanie Waldor as Gulnare - Paul Gavarni
Archival giclée
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Description
A nineteenth-century lithograph by Paul Gavarni depicting Mélanie Waldor as the character Gulnare from Lord Byron's poem Le Corsaire.
This lithograph by Paul Gavarni depicts the French writer Mélanie Waldor in the role of Gulnare, a character from Lord Byron's poem Le Corsaire. Gavarni, a prolific illustrator of Parisian life, captures the subject in a moment of theatrical repose. The composition focuses on the figure leaning against a stone balustrade, her gaze directed away from the viewer. She wears an exoticised costume, complete with a headpiece and a dagger held firmly in her hand, reflecting the nineteenth-century fascination with Orientalism and the dramatic narratives of Romantic literature.
The technical execution demonstrates the precision of the lithographic process. Gavarni employs varied hatching to define the texture of the fabric and the soft shadows surrounding the figure. The background remains largely atmospheric, allowing the subject to occupy the visual centre of the print. The inclusion of the dagger adds a layer of narrative tension, consistent with the character of Gulnare, who is known for her strength and agency within the source material.
This print was produced by the workshop of Victor Jacques Bertauts, a printer known for his collaborations with prominent artists of the period. The work provides insight into the intersection of literature, theatre, and visual art in mid-nineteenth-century France. It documents the cultural practice of portraying literary figures through contemporary fashion and stage costume. The print remains a record of both the artistic output of Gavarni and the public persona of Mélanie Waldor during her time in Parisian literary circles.
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Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
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- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
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- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
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Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Portrait of Mélanie Waldor as Gulnare - Paul Gavarni
Artist Biography
Paul Gavarni
His real name was Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier. He adopted "Gavarni" from the town of Gavarnie in the Pyrenees after a journey there. He was born in Paris in 1804, worked as a machinist in a factory, and taught himself to draw in evening classes. By the 1830s he was the leading illustrator of Parisian social life: fashionable women, carnival scenes, lorettes and debardeurs, all rendered with a wit and polish that Balzac praised publicly and that helped establish Gavarni's reputation.
After the deaths of his mother and the collapse of his marriage around 1845, his style shifted. He spent time in London documenting the lives of the poor, producing work that was bleaker and more compassionate than his Paris satire. His catalogue raisonne lists approximately eight thousand works. He is often compared with his contemporary Daumier, though Gavarni's satire was more polished and less political. He died in Paris in 1866.
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