Not currently on display at the V&A

Rigoletto

Costume Design
1908 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Comelli, Attilio (designers)
Place of origin
London (drawn)

Costume design for members of the ballet in Rigoletto by Giuseppi Verdi and Francesco Maria Piave, based on Victor Hugo's play Le roi s'amuse, performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The design is in the style of Attilio Comelli (1858-1925) whose designs were used for the five performances in the Royal Italian Opera season at the Royal Opera House, 14 May to July 1908. The first performance was postponed due to the indisposition of John McCormack who should have played the Duke. The chorographer was François Ambrosiny (1877-1944), ballet master for the Royal Italian Opera and the Théâtre de la Monnaie, Brussels. Ambrosiny worked at Covent Garden between 1902-1914 and 1919-1928, although not continuously.


Object details

Categories
Entertainment & Leisure
Designs
Theatre
Opera
Object type
Costume design
TitleRigoletto (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour and pencil on board
Watercolour
Pencil
Millboard
Drawing
Painting
Designing
Brief description
Costume design in the style of Attilio Comelli for members of the ballet in Rigoletto at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
Physical description
Costume design in the style of Attilio Comelli for members of the ballet in Giuseppe Verdi's opera Rigoletto. Female figure wearing a pink bodice with gold trim, matching pink and purple long skirts and a black and pink cape. She is also wearing a ruff and a black hat with a white feather. An alternative bodice and sleeves is illustrated in the upper right corner. Undated and unsigned.
Dimensions
  • Height: 36.7cm
  • Width: 26.6cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Rigoletto / Ballet' (Inscribed in pencil, upper left corner.)
  • (Unclear inscription in lower right corner.)
Credit line
Given by the estate of David Dean
Summary
Costume design for members of the ballet in Rigoletto by Giuseppi Verdi and Francesco Maria Piave, based on Victor Hugo's play Le roi s'amuse, performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The design is in the style of Attilio Comelli (1858-1925) whose designs were used for the five performances in the Royal Italian Opera season at the Royal Opera House, 14 May to July 1908. The first performance was postponed due to the indisposition of John McCormack who should have played the Duke. The chorographer was François Ambrosiny (1877-1944), ballet master for the Royal Italian Opera and the Théâtre de la Monnaie, Brussels. Ambrosiny worked at Covent Garden between 1902-1914 and 1919-1928, although not continuously.
Collection
Theatre and Performance Collection
Accession number
S.335-2018

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Record createdDecember 2, 2018
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1465953/rigoletto-costume-design-comelli-attilio/
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