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A scene from a 19th century version of The Barber of Seville. Its origins in the commedia dell'arte are clearly shown in this picture which portrays Figaro dressed in the costume and mask of Harlequin.

The Beggar's Opera

The Beggar's Opera

Beggar's Opera - Hogarth

Refinement meets burlesque in Restoration comedy. In this scene from George Etherege's Love in a Tub, musicians and well-bred ladies surround a man who is wearing a tub because he has lost his trousers.