Nude with Violin
Nude with Violin is a play in three acts (later revised into two acts) by Noël Coward. A light comedy of manners, the play is a satire on "Modern Art", criticism, artistic pretension and the value placed on art. It is set in Paris in 1956 and portrays the effect on the family and associates of a famous artist when it is revealed after his death that he painted none of the pictures signed by him and sold for large sums. The action is mostly under the discreet control of the artist's valet, Sebastien, who manipulates events to bring about a happy ending for all the characters. Its original London production, opening on 7 November 1956, was successful, running for more than a year, starring, successively, John Gielgud, Michael Wilding and Robert Helpmann. Coward played the lead role in the Broadway production in 1957. The play has rarely been professionally revived.
play written by Noël Coward
literary work