Dorilas in the Tragedy of Merope, Georgian Stage Costume, Jefferys Print, 1757

This is an original antique copper engraving from 1757, colored by hand, lettered "Habit of Dorilas in the Tragedy of Merope." Dorilas stands facing the viewer with one arm extended, pointing toward the viewer's left, and the other hand on his hip. A pink turban wound with a green wreath and topped by a tall white plume sits on his head. He wears a long green coat hung with chains of oval ornaments and edged with lace, a crimson cloak thrown back from his shoulder and lined with white, and full crimson breeches. His legs are in pale hose above soft yellow boots.

The English title is engraved in script below the image: "Habit of Dorilas in the Tragedy of Merope." Beneath it, in smaller italic letters, is the French caption "Dorilas dans la Tragédie de Merope.", meaning "Dorilas in the tragedy of Merope". The plate number 238 is engraved at lower right. No engraver or artist is named on the plate.

The plate comes from the second volume of Thomas Jefferys' A Collection of the Dresses of Different Nations, Antient and Modern, published in London in 1757 by Jefferys, Geographer to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, in the Strand. The work has a parallel French title page, Recueil des Habillements de Différentes Nations, which is why each plate is captioned in both languages. The later plates of the volume form a series titled The Habits of the Principal Characters on the English Stage, recording how leading parts were dressed in the London theaters of the period. Merope, Aaron Hill's English version of Voltaire's tragedy, was staged at Drury Lane in 1749. The jeweled chains, plumed turban and lace make this one of the richest costumes in the series.

The green and crimson coloring is rich, and the plate hangs well among other stage figures from the same series.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.