Falstaf
1856
Frédéric Bouchot’s illustration for this 1856 sheet music cover brings Shakespeare’s most lovable rogue, Sir John Falstaff, to life with comic flair. The central figure is a rotund, jovial man presiding over a feast, pitcher raised high as if toasting the viewer, surrounded by a bustling crowd of onlookers. This advertisement promotes a one-act opéra comique by Adolphe Adam—the same genius behind the ballet Giselle and the carol 'O Holy Night'—adapted for the French stage. It’s a charming slice of 19th-century musical history, boldly declaring 'En Vente Ici' to tempt home pianists with the overture and favorite waltzes.
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