Opera Glasses Collection

La Loge (The Theatre Box), 1874. Artist: Renoir, Pierre Auguste (1841-1919)
La Loge (The Theatre Box), 1874. Found in the collection of the Courtauld Institute of Art, London

La Loge, 1874, (c1950). Creator: Pierre-Auguste Renoir
La Loge, 1874, (c1950). La Loge (The Theatre Box): a couple watch a performance. Renoirs brother Edmond and Nini Lopez, a model from Montmartre known as Fish-face, posed for the picture

The Box at the Mascaron Dore, 1893 (oil on canvas)
XIR243468 The Box at the Mascaron Dore, 1893 (oil on canvas) by Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri de (1864-1901); Musee Toulouse-Lautrec, Albi, France; French, out of copyright

CARROLL: LOOKING GLASS. Ticket-taker on the train inspecting Alice with opera glasses. Wood engraving after Sir John Tenniel for the first edition of Lewis Carrolls Through the Looking Glass, 1872

Engraving depicting an elderly woman using a lorgnette as she speaks with her young granddaughter, 19th century
5308551 Engraving depicting an elderly woman using a lorgnette as she speaks with her young granddaughter, 19th century; (add.info)

Engraving depicting a man using lorgnettes to read his newspaper at the breakfast table, 19th century
5308553 Engraving depicting a man using lorgnettes to read his newspaper at the breakfast table, 19th century; (add.info)

Le Banc des Amateurs, 1852. Creator: Honore Daumier
Le Banc des Amateurs, 1852. Vue prise a l'opera. The Theatre-Lovers Seats. Scene at the opera. Series: Les Parisiens en 1852, no. 3; Periodical: Le Charivari, 15 January 1852

Allegory of the planet Venus, 1742-1801. Creator: Georg Balthasar Probst
Allegory of the planet Venus, 1742-1801. Venus, sixth planet, and its influence. In the centre floating on a cloud are Venus and Cupid, a set of scales and a bull

La loge grillée, 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
La loge grillee, 19th century

The Theatre Box, 1896. Creator: Evenepoel, Henri Jacques Edouard (1872-1899)
The Theatre Box, 1896. Found in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp

Monsieur Colimard si vous continuez... 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Monsieur Colimard si vous continuez... 19th century. Sketch taken at the theatre by Daumier - Mr. Colimard if you continue

Se posant en appréciateur, 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Se posant en appreciateur, 19th century. Parisians in 1852 - Posing as an appreciator

During Intermission, published 1894. Creator: Alexandre Lunois
During Intermission, published 1894

Eventails, engraved by H. Reidel, 1924 (pochoir print)
1123807 Eventails, engraved by H. Reidel, 1924 (pochoir print) by Barbier, Georges (1882-1932); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection

Puppet with Opera Glass, c. 1937. Creator: Verna Tallman
Puppet with Opera Glass, c. 1937

At the theatre. Creator: Guillaume, Albert (1873-1942)
At the theatre. Private Collection

A box at the Italian Opera in 1852, 1898 (litho)
5913081 A box at the Italian Opera in 1852, 1898 (litho) by Courboin, Francois (1865-1926); (add.info.: A box at the Italian Opera, 1852)

The Theatre Box, 1874 (oil on canvas)
CH376374 The Theatre Box, 1874 (oil on canvas) by Renoir, Pierre Auguste (1841-1919); Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; French, out of copyright

Tragedy (chromolitho)
3638941 Tragedy (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tragedy. Cat-themed Christmas card.); Look and Learn / Valerie Jackson Harris Collection

English cartoon depicting male members of the audience captivated by a performance by controversial French ballerina
5208534 English cartoon depicting male members of the audience captivated by a performance by controversial French ballerina Mademoiselle Parisot, 1802 (colour litho) by Newton

The Box of the Golden Grotesque, 1893 (colour litho)
CH133730 The Box of the Golden Grotesque, 1893 (colour litho) by Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri de (1864-1901); 50.2x32.5 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

At the Theatre, Woman with a Fan, 1880 (pastel and charcoal on paper laid down on paper)
CH100783 At the Theatre, Woman with a Fan, 1880 (pastel and charcoal on paper laid down on paper) by Degas, Edgar (1834-1917); 70.5x47.3 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

Enjoying Suchard chocolate at the opera or theatre (chromolitho)
974385 Enjoying Suchard chocolate at the opera or theatre (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Enjoying Suchard chocolate at the opera or theatre)

Portrait of William Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire, 1831-32 (oil on canvas)
CTS336369 Portrait of William Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire, 1831-32 (oil on canvas) by Landseer, Edwin (1802-73); 60.5x45.3 cm; eThe Devonshire Collections

What Next! (colour litho)
729315 What Next! (colour litho) by Beers, Jan van (1852-1927); Private Collection; (add.info.: What Next! Presented with the Spring Number of Pick-Me-Up, 1893)

Caricature of the audience at the Commemoration of Handel in Westminster Abbey
DEC84541 Caricature of the audience at the Commemoration of Handel in Westminster Abbey, 1787 (ink and watercolour) by Nixon, John (1760-1818); 13x16.5 cm; Gerald Coke Handel Collection

Love of arriving late at theatrical productions, illustration from Pont
STC398787 Love of arriving late at theatrical productions, illustration from Pont: An Account of the Life and Work of the great Punch artist (litho) by Pont (Graham Laidler) (1908-40)

Advertisement, Parkins and Gotto (engraving)
1048842 Advertisement, Parkins and Gotto (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement, Parkins and Gotto)

Woman sitting at her dressing table looking at a photograph of a man, possibly her husband or lover (colour litho)
5230170 Woman sitting at her dressing table looking at a photograph of a man, possibly her husband or lover (colour litho) by Underwood, Clarence F

The Green Room of the Kings Theatre, or Noble Amateurs viewing Foreign Curiosities
3090242 The Green Room of the Kings Theatre, or Noble Amateurs viewing Foreign Curiosities, from " The English Spy", pub

Advertisement, Parkins and Gotto (engraving)
1052914 Advertisement, Parkins and Gotto (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement, Parkins and Gotto)

The small hobgoblins (chromolitho)
961360 The small hobgoblins (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The small hobgoblins. Trade card, circa late 19th century.); © Look and Learn

Alice in the Train Carriage, illustration from Through the Looking Glass
2657692 Alice in the Train Carriage, illustration from Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll (1832 - 98), 1872 (engraving) by Tenniel

Ladies Gossiping at the Opera (oil on canvas)
VFS109732 Ladies Gossiping at the Opera (oil on canvas) by Barnard, Frederick (1846-1896) (attr. to); 39.3x37.4 cm; Private Collection; English, out of copyright

An Evening at the Opera (oil on canvas)
827010 An Evening at the Opera (oil on canvas) by Kahler, Carl (1855-1906); 116.8x93.3 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: An Evening at the Opera. Carl Kahler (1855-1906). Oil on canvas

Le Missionnaire, 1894. Creator: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Le Missionnaire, 1894

Loge with the Gilt Mask (La loge au mascaron dore), 1893

La Loge (The Theatre Box), 1908. Found in the Collection of Muse e d Orsay, Paris

In the Loge, ca 1878. Found in the Collection of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

The Box with the Gilded Mask, 1893, (1946). Artist: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
The Box with the Gilded Mask, 1893, (1946). La Loge au mascaron dorU in French, illustraion for a theatre programme for Marcel LuguetAEs play The Missionary (Le Missionnaire)

At a Concert, 19th century

The Optic Curls, 18th century. Gentleman theatre goers use one of their female companions elaborate curls as opera glasses. Illustration from Social Caricature in the Eighteenth Century

Le Missionaire, 1894. Artist: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Le Missionaire, 1894. Poster. Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri, de (1864-1901). Found in the collection of the State A. Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow

METROPOLITAN OPERA, 1898. View from the balcony at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City during a performance of Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg, by Richard Wagner

CHARITY BALL, 1911. Prince Alexander of Teck (right) and Princess Alice of Albany review the proceedings at a fancy-dress charity ball at the Savoy Hotel, London, England, May 1911

Illustration of opera glasses

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"Through the Looking Glass: A Glimpse into Opera Glasses" Step back in time and immerse yourself in the world of opera glasses, a timeless accessory that has enchanted theatergoers for centuries. From Renoir's captivating painting "La Loge (The Theatre Box)" to Verna Tallman's whimsical creation of a puppet with opera glasses, these small yet mighty tools have played an integral role in enhancing the theatrical experience. In Lewis Carroll's iconic novel "Through the Looking Glass, " we find Alice being inspected by a ticket-taker on a train, armed with his trusty opera glasses. This scene perfectly captures their significance as they allow us to observe every intricate detail from afar, bringing us closer to the magic unfolding before our eyes. Transporting us further into history, H. Reidel's pochoir print "Eventails" showcases exquisite fans adorned with delicate depictions of opera glasses. These prints serve as a testament to their elegance and allure during the early 20th century. Albert Guillaume's artwork titled "At the theatre" invites us into a bustling auditorium where patrons hold their breath while peering through their cherished opera glasses. The sense of anticipation is palpable as they await moments of tragedy or triumph depicted on stage. One cannot ignore the social aspect associated with these ornate accessories either. In an English cartoon from 1802, male audience members are captivated by Mademoiselle Parisot, a controversial French ballerina whose performance mesmerizes even those observing her through their trusted lenses. Private boxes like Drury Lane in 1837 provided affluent theater enthusiasts with exclusive views enhanced by personalized sets of opera glasses. These luxurious spaces allowed them to enjoy performances up close without missing any nuances or expressions displayed by talented actors and musicians alike. From lithographs depicting Italian operas in 1852 to etchings capturing modern-day theater audiences enthralled by live performances, they have stood the test of time.