/ˌtabləʊ ˈviːvɒ̃z/, /ˌtabləʊ ˈviːvɒ̃/, U.S. /ˌtɑˈbloʊ vɪˈvɑnts/, /ˌtɑˈbloʊ vɪˈvɑnt/, tableau vivants, (nonstandard) tableaus vivants, (now rare) tableaux vivans.tableau vivantn.
/ˌtabləʊ ˈviːvɒ̃/, U.S. /ˌtɑˈbloʊ vɪˈvɑnt//ˌtabləʊ ˈviːvɒ̃z/, /ˌtabləʊ ˈviːvɒ̃/, U.S. /ˌtɑˈbloʊ vɪˈvɑnts/, /ˌtɑˈbloʊ vɪˈvɑnt/, tableau vivants, (nonstandard) tableaus vivants, (now rare) tableaux vivans. A silent and motionless person or group of people posed and attired to represent a well-known character, event, or work of art. In extended use: a person or group of people forming a striking or picturesque scene.In quot. 1883 with reference to a group of statuary.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > [noun] > scene > picturesque
tableau1774
tableau vivant1821
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > mime > tableau > [noun]
pageantc1450
picture1588
spectacle1752
tableau vivant1821
tableau1828
living picture1851
set piece1859
1821 Kaleidoscope 3 Apr. 315/3 Lalla Rookh and the Prince Abiris..were present at the representation of the principal episodes by tableaux vivans formed by the people.
1832 Examiner 29 Jan. 69/1 The tableau vivant of the tournament is magnificent, that of the marriage equally gorgeous.
1844 ‘E. Warburton’ Crescent & Cross (1845) I. xii. 106 The rich colouring, the antique attitudes, the various complexions that continually present themselves, form an unceasing series of tableaux vivans in an Eastern city.
1852 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. May 604/1 A tableau-vivant of the death of Hector.
1883 C. C. Perkins Hist. Handbk. Ital. Sculpt. 385 Upon canvas the group would be counted a masterpiece, in clay it is a tableau vivant.
1908 H. H. Peerless Diary 9 June in Brief Jolly Change (2003) 120 Coffee in drawing-room, then all troop down to dining-room to see tableaux vivants on the stage. There is a deal of waiting between each spectacle but they were not bad.
1946 S. T. Felstead Stars who made Halls iii. 37 Morton created more sensation with his Tableaux Vivants–living representations of famous paintings.
2007 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 26 Aug. t112 Marc Jacobs nailed the look with his tableau vivant of impeccably done-up women in bright narrow coats, ribbed sweaters and multihued, wide-brimmed hats.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1821