Print Collection
Print
ca. 1690 (published)
ca. 1690 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Engraving entitled 'The famous Dutch Woman', showing a female acrobat possibly performing at Sadler's Wells, ca.1690.
'A spectator's view of rope dancing is provided by a racy description of Bartholomew Fair, written by Ned Ward in 1699. Ward was deeply moved by a German girl who danced on the rope, playing with her feet as if assisted with the wings of Mercury; the proportions of her limbs and vivacity of her movements inspired him to think ''that if she be but as nimble between the sheets as she is upon a rope, she must needs be one of the best bed-fellows in England''. This may be the performer usually known as ''the famous Dutch Woman'' - the corruption of deutsch to Dutch was not uncommon'. (George Speaight, A History of the Circus (London: Tantivy Press, 1980), pp.18-19)
'A spectator's view of rope dancing is provided by a racy description of Bartholomew Fair, written by Ned Ward in 1699. Ward was deeply moved by a German girl who danced on the rope, playing with her feet as if assisted with the wings of Mercury; the proportions of her limbs and vivacity of her movements inspired him to think ''that if she be but as nimble between the sheets as she is upon a rope, she must needs be one of the best bed-fellows in England''. This may be the performer usually known as ''the famous Dutch Woman'' - the corruption of deutsch to Dutch was not uncommon'. (George Speaight, A History of the Circus (London: Tantivy Press, 1980), pp.18-19)
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Print Collection (named collection) |
| Materials and techniques | Engraving |
| Brief description | Engraving entitled The Famous Dutch Woman, possibly performing at Sadler's Wells ca. 1690. |
| Physical description | Engraving entitled 'The famous Dutch Woman', depicting a female acrobat in shirt and breeches holding on to a slack rope with both hands. Below, to left, a male performer in a doublet and ruff pointing upwards at the acrobat. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Gabrielle Enthoven Collection |
| Summary | Engraving entitled 'The famous Dutch Woman', showing a female acrobat possibly performing at Sadler's Wells, ca.1690. 'A spectator's view of rope dancing is provided by a racy description of Bartholomew Fair, written by Ned Ward in 1699. Ward was deeply moved by a German girl who danced on the rope, playing with her feet as if assisted with the wings of Mercury; the proportions of her limbs and vivacity of her movements inspired him to think ''that if she be but as nimble between the sheets as she is upon a rope, she must needs be one of the best bed-fellows in England''. This may be the performer usually known as ''the famous Dutch Woman'' - the corruption of deutsch to Dutch was not uncommon'. (George Speaight, A History of the Circus (London: Tantivy Press, 1980), pp.18-19) |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.654-2010 |
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| Record created | May 26, 2010 |
| Record URL |
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