Interior as a Scene in the Depictions of French Illustrators of Racine’s Works in the 18th Century: A Comparative Aspect

French literary illustration of the 18th century is studied from point view depicting an interior as a locale. The problem influence and visual sources on formation image through several series illustrations for Racine’s Works in editions. main comparative research are J. Berenice, engraved drawings by artists L. Cheron (1723), L.-F. Dubourg (1743), de Sève (1760), H.-F. Gravelot (1768), J.-J.-F. Lebarbier (1796). Reading Berenice Russian, reading critical works about “Racine’s space” helps to understand locale playwright’s version. events take place confined space ancient Roman palace. author modernizes locale, using concepts noble his time — “cabinet”, “apartments”. description scene has minimum detail, contradictory insufficient literal depictions. artists, following example playwright, interpreted spirit modernity, but changed supplemented secondary details. As rule, they depicted reception area ceremonial apartments accurately conveyed styles decoration (Grand style, Transition Neoclassicism, Directory style). explained episode play whole means compositional tools that had wide semantic range. Comparison among themselves comparison book engravings with architectural shows continuity artistic tradition adherence academic rules working depiction. repeated compositions similar quoted design projects 17th–18th centuries. was directly dependent sources, not text. method based selective arbitrary reflection text, actualizing appearance semantics details partial copying samples.