Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Le Cid: Act 2, Scene 3

 
Original - Jules Massenet's Le Cid, Act 2, Scene 3, from L'Illustration's coverage of the opera's première. The climactic event of the early opera: Rodrigue's father has obliged his son to defend his honour, but Rodrigue only afterwards learns that the person he has to duel is his beloved Chimène's father, the Comte de Gormas. He is honour-bound to go through with it, and wins the duel, but Chimène now both loves and hates him, and this internal conflict powers the drama of the rest of the opera.
Reason
I love Le Cid. It's a fantastic opera, combining a strong plot with wonderful music.

So... when I saw a chance to get a copy of the 5 Décembre 1885 copy of L'Illustration - the edition that covered the première - I snapped it up. This is the second of four illustrations printed therein - expect the rest to follow. The 19th century had some spectacular set design, and this image shows it off wonderfully. The original scan contains two images, so, if you'll pardon me, I'll upload it with the second, as Commons has been a little awkward for me of late.

Articles this image appears in
Le Cid, Le Cid (opera)
Creator
Auguste Tilly

Support per Durova. Mostlyharmless (talk) 04:09, 18 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Promoted File:Jules Massenet - Le Cid 2e Acte, 3e Tableau - L'Illustration.jpg MER-C 11:16, 18 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]