Barbara Marchisio by Mieczkowski

Barbara Marchisio (1833-1919); Italian contralto.She made her debut in 1856 at the Teatro Real de Madrid as Rosina in Rossini's "Barbiere di Siviglia". She performed almost always together with her sister Carlotta Marchisio. They were protégé's of Rossini and he wrote the Petit Messe Solennelle especially for their voices. After her sister's early death at the age of 36 she was occupied as a voice-teacher and her most famous pupils were Toti dal Monte and Rosa Raïsa.

The dedication at the back (see the next photo) is made to the Polish tenor and stage-director Leopold Matuszynski.