1840 ca, FRANCE : The celebrated french playwright Pierre-Augustin CARON DE BEAUMARCHAIS (1732 - 1799). Portrait by Bayeard, 1840. He is best known for his plays like " Le Barbier de Seville "(1775 - IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA) and " Mariage de Figaro "(IL MATRIMONIO DI FIGARO - later in music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart).