These rare figures are dressed in theatrical costumes. Although Mennecy did produce a series of figures of the commedia dell’arte these do not have any obvious attributes of that series and so are perhaps based on characters in a popular play.
The quality of the painting is particularly good, noticeably the delineation of her hair and details her bonnet.

Condition – Restoration to his hat and feathers and fingers of right hand, her left arm restored

Provenance – Comte Jules de Noailles, 18 June 1954 (£ 450.00 bought by H.E. Backer Antiques)

Another example of the man from the Darblay Collection was sold by Christie’s, Paris, 4 May 2011, lot 190

This item has been sold