Molière Reading Tartuffe at Ninon de Lenclos's by Monsiau

Nicolas André Monsiau (Paris 1754/1837)
Molière reading Tartuffe ar Ninon de Lenclos's

Oil on canvas signed and dated (1802) on the lower left

Dimensions
97 cm H x 147 cm L

This reading took place at the 36 rue des Tournelles, Paris, where Ninon de Lenclos lived and organised a famous salon. We can see in this painting some of the most important french intellectuals of the reign of Louis XIV : Molière, Ninon de Lenclos, Pierre and Thomas Corneille, Jean-Baptiste Lully, Racine, Jean de la Lafontaine, Nicolas Boileau, Chapelle, Baron, le grand Condé , La Bruyère, Pierre Mignard, La Rochefoucault, Maréchal de Vivone, Philippe Quinault, Saint Evremont and François Girardon.

The Musée Bibliothèque de la Comédie Française has a quiet similar painting but smaller (97 cm H x 85 cm)