Nicolas DELARMESSIN (Paris 1684 -1755) "Portrait de Comedien" (Portrait of the actor Tristano Martinelli inventor of Arlecchino) Original etching from a subject by Domenico Fetti, from the collection entitled "Recueil d'Estampes d'apres les plus beaux tableaux ... qui sont en France "printed and published in Paris in 1729. Nice copy printed on laid paper bearing the watermark" Colombaia "typical of French paper production of the 18th century, with large margins beyond the imprint of the slab, a trace of browning on the left edge and a few other small foxing points, in excellent general condition. Tristano Martinelli was born in Marcaria in 1557 and died in Mantua in 1630, comic actor and acrobat had an important career across Europe and became famous for the invention of one of the most irreverent masks of the Commedia dell'Arte, Arlecchino. Bibliography: Ferrone “Arlecchino. Life and adventures of Tristano Martinelli actor ”Laterza Bari 2006 LeBlanc“ Manuel de l'Amateur d'Estampes ”Paris 1856 vol.2 pag.494 n ° 77. Portalis – Beraldi “Les Graveurs du XVIII siecle” Paris 1881 volume II pag. 534. Measurements in mm: 322 x 240