Esmeralda
Figurine
ca.1856 (made)
ca.1856 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Earthenware flatbacks and figurines for mantelpiece decoration were first produced in Staffordshire in the late 1830s and were made in vast numbers until the fashion for them declined in the early 1900s. This represents the character Esmeralda with her pet goat, from Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Hugo's novel was first published in 1831 and was transformed into an opera in Paris by Louise Bertin in 1836, and a ballet by Antonio Monticium for La Scala, Milan in 1839. In March 1844 another version was performed at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London, choreographed by Jules Perrot to music by Cesare Pugni, designed as a showcase for the talents of the ballerina Carlotta Grisi and Perrot himself. Following the success of the ballet, a music sheet illustrated by John Brandard was produced for a selection of its music arranged as The Esmeralda Waltzes. This illustration was the basis for a Staffordshire earthenware figurine of Esmeralda and the goat, probably representing Carlotta Grisi as Esmeralda. However, when the opera Esmeralda, or The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Vincenzo Battista was produced at Drury Lane Theatre on 30 June 1856, the music sheet was reissued with the head changed to represent the singer Lucy Escott as Esmeralda. This figurine appears to have been based on that revised music sheet illustration.
Hugo's novel was first published in 1831 and was transformed into an opera in Paris by Louise Bertin in 1836, and a ballet by Antonio Monticium for La Scala, Milan in 1839. In March 1844 another version was performed at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London, choreographed by Jules Perrot to music by Cesare Pugni, designed as a showcase for the talents of the ballerina Carlotta Grisi and Perrot himself. Following the success of the ballet, a music sheet illustrated by John Brandard was produced for a selection of its music arranged as The Esmeralda Waltzes. This illustration was the basis for a Staffordshire earthenware figurine of Esmeralda and the goat, probably representing Carlotta Grisi as Esmeralda. However, when the opera Esmeralda, or The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Vincenzo Battista was produced at Drury Lane Theatre on 30 June 1856, the music sheet was reissued with the head changed to represent the singer Lucy Escott as Esmeralda. This figurine appears to have been based on that revised music sheet illustration.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Esmeralda (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Glazed earthenware |
| Brief description | Figurine of Lucy Escott as Esmeralda in the opera Esmeralda, or the Hunchback of Notre Dame by Vincenzo Battista, adapted for the English stage by Charles Jeffereys, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 30 June 1856. Glazed earthenware, Staffordshire, ca.1856 |
| Physical description | Glazed earthenware figurine of Esmeralda and the goat, modelled in the round. They stand on an integral base, decorated as a grassy mound with yellow, green and brown. The goat stands on its hind legs by her side, its forelegs bent in front of its chest. Esmeralda wears a pale pink thigh-length skirt with white low-cut bodice and cutaway peplum with dagged edges and yellow tassels. She wears a creamy yellow sash and holds a tamborine high in her left hand. Her right arm is bent up to her chest. She wears a white hat with green decorative details, and has auburn-brown hair. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Cyril W. Beaumont Bequest |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Literary reference | Victor Hugo's 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame'. |
| Summary | Earthenware flatbacks and figurines for mantelpiece decoration were first produced in Staffordshire in the late 1830s and were made in vast numbers until the fashion for them declined in the early 1900s. This represents the character Esmeralda with her pet goat, from Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Hugo's novel was first published in 1831 and was transformed into an opera in Paris by Louise Bertin in 1836, and a ballet by Antonio Monticium for La Scala, Milan in 1839. In March 1844 another version was performed at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London, choreographed by Jules Perrot to music by Cesare Pugni, designed as a showcase for the talents of the ballerina Carlotta Grisi and Perrot himself. Following the success of the ballet, a music sheet illustrated by John Brandard was produced for a selection of its music arranged as The Esmeralda Waltzes. This illustration was the basis for a Staffordshire earthenware figurine of Esmeralda and the goat, probably representing Carlotta Grisi as Esmeralda. However, when the opera Esmeralda, or The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Vincenzo Battista was produced at Drury Lane Theatre on 30 June 1856, the music sheet was reissued with the head changed to represent the singer Lucy Escott as Esmeralda. This figurine appears to have been based on that revised music sheet illustration. |
| Bibliographic reference | Staffordshire Portrait Figures of the Victorian Era by P.D. Gordon Pugh. p.433. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.876-1981 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | December 15, 2005 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
