Ceramic
ca.1840 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
In the 19th century the star actors and actresses of their day were often celebrated in paintings, prints and drawings, in ceramic figures and even Toby Jugs. Several factories in England manufactured the ceramic items which were decorated by hand and sold cheaply. This figurine is of Maria Foote (1798-1867), the Plymouth girl whose father was a theatre manager in her home town, and is based on a print published by Orlando Hodgson entitled Miss Foote as the Little Jockey. The figurine originally had a riding crop in the right hand, but this is missing.
Maria Foote's stage career began at the early age of 12, playing Juliet to her mother's Romeo, casting which was a cause for scandal in early 19th century Plymouth. The family moved to London to escape the furore and by the age of 16 Maria was acting at Covent Garden Theatre, where her good looks entranced audiences and apparently compensated for any lack of talent. When she played Arinette, the Little Jockey in William Dimond's comic burletta The Little Jockey at the Olympic Theatre in January 1831 she was certainly the star of the piece, singing the songs 'Why pretty Maiden' and 'The boy in yellow wins the day' and according to one reviewer being 'the most perfect presentation' of a little jockey ever.
Maria Foote's stage career began at the early age of 12, playing Juliet to her mother's Romeo, casting which was a cause for scandal in early 19th century Plymouth. The family moved to London to escape the furore and by the age of 16 Maria was acting at Covent Garden Theatre, where her good looks entranced audiences and apparently compensated for any lack of talent. When she played Arinette, the Little Jockey in William Dimond's comic burletta The Little Jockey at the Olympic Theatre in January 1831 she was certainly the star of the piece, singing the songs 'Why pretty Maiden' and 'The boy in yellow wins the day' and according to one reviewer being 'the most perfect presentation' of a little jockey ever.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Glazed earthenware |
Brief description | Glazed earthenware figurine of Maria Foote (1798-1867) as Arinette the Little Jockey in the comic burletta The Little Jockey or Love and Folly, by William Dimond, Olympic Theatre, January 1831. Staffordshire, ca.1840. |
Physical description | Glazed earthenware figurine with overglaze gilt details of Maria Foote in her costume as The Little Jockey, standing on a roughly circular cream base with integral cream 'tree stump' and a gold line around the base. Her right arm is in the air, possible originally holding a riding whip, and her left arm is to her hip. She wears black boots with yellow stockings and gilt line on top, cream breeches, a royal blue knee-length waisted jacket with gold cuffs and lapels, and a cream waistcoat patterned with a violet pattern. She wears a green and gold jockey's cap. |
Dimensions |
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Credit line | Bequeathed by John O'Donoghue |
Association | |
Summary | In the 19th century the star actors and actresses of their day were often celebrated in paintings, prints and drawings, in ceramic figures and even Toby Jugs. Several factories in England manufactured the ceramic items which were decorated by hand and sold cheaply. This figurine is of Maria Foote (1798-1867), the Plymouth girl whose father was a theatre manager in her home town, and is based on a print published by Orlando Hodgson entitled Miss Foote as the Little Jockey. The figurine originally had a riding crop in the right hand, but this is missing. Maria Foote's stage career began at the early age of 12, playing Juliet to her mother's Romeo, casting which was a cause for scandal in early 19th century Plymouth. The family moved to London to escape the furore and by the age of 16 Maria was acting at Covent Garden Theatre, where her good looks entranced audiences and apparently compensated for any lack of talent. When she played Arinette, the Little Jockey in William Dimond's comic burletta The Little Jockey at the Olympic Theatre in January 1831 she was certainly the star of the piece, singing the songs 'Why pretty Maiden' and 'The boy in yellow wins the day' and according to one reviewer being 'the most perfect presentation' of a little jockey ever. |
Associated object | S.937-1996 (Object) |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | S.38-2007 |
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Record created | March 24, 2009 |
Record URL |
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