Signor Frezzolini as Doctor Dulcamara in the Opera "The Elixir of Love"

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Signor Frezzolini as Doctor Dulcamara in the Opera "The Elixir of Love"

c. 1832

Andreas Geiger (Austrian, 1765–1856) After Johann Christian Schoeller (Austrian, 1782–1851)

L'Elisir d'Amor (The Elixir of Love), the popular comic opera by Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848), was first performed in Milan in 1832 with Giuseppe Frezzolini playing the role of an itinerant medicine seller, Dr. Dulcamara (Dr. Sweetbitter). The opera tells the story of a simple young farmer, Nemorino, who learns of a rival's effort to woo the fair and wealthy Adina, and decides to purchase a love potion from Dr. Dulcamara. Although the elixir is simply a bottle of wine that makes him more drunk than lovable, Nemorino nonetheless succeeds in winning the affections of Adina.

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Object Details

Titles:

Signor Frezzolini as Doctor Dulcamara in the Opera "The Elixir of Love"
Signor Frezzolini als Dulcamara in der Oper L'Elisir d'Amore, Plate 31 from Costüme Bilder zur Theaterzeitung (Vienna, c. 1832)

Date:

c. 1832

Artists:

Andreas Geiger (Austrian, 1765–1856) After Johann Christian Schoeller (Austrian, 1782–1851)

Medium:

Hand-colored engraving

Dimensions:

Plate: 9 x 5 1/2 inches (22.9 x 14 cm) Sheet: 11 11/16 x 9 1/16 inches (29.7 x 23 cm)

Classification:

Prints

Credit Line:

The William H. Helfand Collection, 2004

Accession Number:

2004-99-32

Geography:

Made in Austrian, Europe

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