Rolland, Romain.

the apparently complete draft of the prose drama in four acts, with autograph stage directions, unsigned, and without a title-page, a working manuscript in places, written in dark brown, almost black, ink on unbound bifolios, with deletions, corrections and alterations, including additions written in the margins, the stage directions for Lionardo's opening speech on the first page annotated by the author in pencil ("J'ai désiré que cette poésie fût écrite par Saaris qui me l'a promis"), Act 2 (only) being divided into five scenes, each act written on a different paper-stock



Act 1 ("Dans les jardins du duc Pompeo...Comme dans la Fresque de Botticelli"): 35 pages, folio (c. 28 x 19cm.), final blank, on 10 bifolios (each paginated on the first page), including title wrapper ("Acte I"), watermarked paper by Magnani of Pescia
Act 2 ("Route de montagne"): 55 pages, 4to (c. 20 x 15.5cm.), on 14 numbered folio sheets, unmarked paper, later title leaf in another hand ("Akt II")
Act 3 ("Palais de duc Pompeo. Une chambre chez Catherine"): 35 pages, folio (c. 26 x 19cm.), final blank, on 10 bifolios, including title wrapper ("Acte III"), paper by Antonio Innamorati
Act 4 ("Nuit... Grande salle éclairée par des flambeaux"): 38 pages, folio (c. 26 x 19cm.), on 10 bifolios (each paginated on the first page), the play concluding on the title wrapper ("Acte IV...La tragédie est finie."), paper by Magnani of Pescia



164 pages in all, including titles, folio and 4to, Italian paper, probably Italian provenance, [c. 1891]

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

unpublished. No edition of the present drama nor the following lot appears in Le Catalogue collectif de France (CCFr).

The title "Orsino" does not appear on the manuscript. "Orsino" is the name of the protagonist who dies at the end of the play, which is set in Renaissance Florence. Orsino is introduced by Duke Pompeo as "le plus illustre conquérant que le monde ait vu depuis Alexandre le Grand...". The other main characters are his beloved, Catherine, Lionardo and Pompeo, together with Lodovico, Baldassare, Cesare, Isabelle, Laura, Guido, Gherardo and Lucrezia.  Romain Rolland (1866-1944) was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1916 for his vast ten-part novel about the musical composer Jean-Christophe. See S. Gugenheim, Romain Rolland e l'Italia (1955).