Abstract:

In 1697 Louis XIV banned Italian actors on French stage. This order was cancelled only in 1716. Despite this fact the characters of the commedia dell’arte were the object of interest of French painters through the first third of the XVIII th century. At the same time there was an evolution in their interpretation. The paper is dedicated to the transformation of characters of the commedia dell’arte in A. Watteau’s work. In his earliest works we can see the influence of C. Gillot. But as time goes by, A. Watteau pays more attention to shades of feelings which are demonstrated by his heroes. His interpretation is close to the one of P. de Marivaux. Often A. Watteau combines the characters of the commedia dell’arte with Greek mythological figures. The last ones reveal or complement the depicted plot.

Keywords: A. Watteau, C. Gillot, France, Italy, the XVIII th century, Rococo