Alexandre-Évariste Fragonard, dessinateur de costumes pour l’Opéra de Paris

Alexandre-Evariste Fragonard (1780-1850) was appointed as a dress designer for the Paris Opera on March 25th 1824. He contributed for operas and produced a lot of models, in an orientalising style, for two fantastic operas, fairy tales mixing heroism to the marvellous, Les deux Salems and Zemir et Azor, and in a «troubadour »mood for two lyrical works, Richard et Zoraïde and La dame du lac. This decorative vein was related to a recent trend in the paintings of the artist. His experience as a designer, his taste for the theatre and, above all, his knowledge of historical dress probably explain the reasons for his being appointed. However, Fragonard only assumed this position for a few months, for deep financial dissensions opposed him to the administration. The decision to replace him occurred in November 1824 and was applied as early as the following January.