Performed at the Théâtre du Marais in the spring of 1636, this tragedy by Tristan L’Hermite (1601–1655), remarkable for its novel tone, met with great success. The edition illustrated by Bosse in 1637 is the first, the frontispiece being reworked by other hands in subsequent editions (1639 and 1644). The image illustrates Act III, scene II: Herod, on his throne, accompanied by his son and his daughter Salome, along with bearded, turbaned judges, listens as his cupbearer falsely accuses his wife Mariane of plotting against him; behind the queen stands the captain of the guard. This is one of the key scenes of the tragedy, which will lead Mariane to her death.
The design of this print is Bosse’s own invention; at this date he had not yet engraved after Claude Vignon. The print for La Galerie du Palais shows a bookseller’s wife presenting La Mariane to a gentleman, among other books in the shop.
This is one of the many reissues of this classic by Tristan L’Hermite (1601–1655), first published by Augustin Courbé in 1637. This eighteenth-century edition bears on the title leaf the erroneous date “1718” for 1738.
Some rubbing to the binding, defects to the headcap.