Joseph Isidore Samson (1793 – 1871), actor, dramatist

1^st image: Soirée; 2^nd: engraving (1850);

Seated near his colleague-actor Regnier, Joseph Samson was also member of the Comédie-Française. In addition, Samson is known as the 'inventor' and teacher of tragedy actress, later comedy actress, Rachel Félix⁸¹. It were Samson's lessons on how to optimize her voice and movements that turned her into into a magnet for the audience. Given Rachel's (planned) presence at this imaginary vendredi-soirée, Samson had to be there as well.