(COSTUME). (HAND-PAINTED PRINT). Rosaura in dem Schauspiel: Das Leben ein Traum.

Vibrant Contemporary Hand Coloring

(COSTUME). (HAND-PAINTED PRINT).  Rosaura in dem Schauspiel: Das Leben ein Traum. [Rosaura in the Play: Life is a Dream]. (Germany or Austria: ca. 1850) Single plate, printed on one side only. (274 x 178 mm.)  Slight crease on one edge and a hint of toning to paper. Near fine.

A cross-dressing female heroine defends her honor, with exquisite hand-coloring.

Rosaura is a central character in Pedro Calderón de la Barca's play "La vida es sueño," first published in Spain in 1636. Dressing as a man, Rosaura travels (by hippogriff!) to the Polish court determined to seek vengeance on the man who took her honor. The present image depicts her in noble feminine dress, but with a breastplate, plumed helmet, and sword. This print is unsigned, but it probably appeared as part of a costume anthology printed in the Romantic era--a time when Calderón de la Barca's plays were being revived and he was dubbed the "Spanish Shakespeare." (1190)