French Art Nouveau Lithograph, “Lorenzaccio,” by Alphonse Mucha

A French Art Nouveau lithograph, "Lorenzaccio", by Alphonse Mucha. The poster was designed by Mucha for the play "Lorenzaccio", written by Alfred de Musset, about the Medici family in 16th century Florence, in which Sarah Bernhardt played the title role. The poster shows Lorenzaccio considering how to kill Alessandro de’ Medici, his cousin, who is besieging the city. The dragon above represents the city of Florence (its emblem appears by the dragon’s mouth). The ornate, jeweled sword in the bottom panel, above the theater’s name, represents a possible solution to Lorenzaccio’s dliemma. Signed lower right-hand corner. Pictured in Alphonse Mucha: The Complete Posters and Panels, by Jack Rennert and Alain Weill, G.K. Hall & Co., Publishers, Boston, pages 107-109, cat. 20. Framed.