Madame Vestris
Figurine
ca.1830 (made)
ca.1830 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
18th and 19th century theatrical stars were often celebrated in paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures and ceramics. Small figurines of performers proved lucrative for ceramic firms like Chamberlain's Worcester Porcelain, the firm founded by Robert Chamberlain in 1783 which flourished until 1850 and which produced this figurine of Madame Vestris.
The actress, singer and theatre manager Lucia Elizabeth Vestris (1797-1865), was born Elizabeth Bartolozzi in London. Aged sixteen she married the dancer Armand Vestris and although they separated, she kept his name professionally. She could have specialised in opera but instead worked in burlesque and comedy roles, having her earliest success in 1820 in a burlesque, or parody, of Mozart's Don Giovanni called Giovanni In London. She made a name for herself in Paris and London, famous for her 'breeches' roles, portraying men and revealing her well-shaped and much praised legs. She had a huge hit with The Broom Girl! which she first sang at the Haymarket Theatre in 1826. She began manager of the Olympic Theatre in 1830, and after her marriage to Charles Mathews in 1838, managed Covent Garden and the Lyceum Theatres for some time.
The actress, singer and theatre manager Lucia Elizabeth Vestris (1797-1865), was born Elizabeth Bartolozzi in London. Aged sixteen she married the dancer Armand Vestris and although they separated, she kept his name professionally. She could have specialised in opera but instead worked in burlesque and comedy roles, having her earliest success in 1820 in a burlesque, or parody, of Mozart's Don Giovanni called Giovanni In London. She made a name for herself in Paris and London, famous for her 'breeches' roles, portraying men and revealing her well-shaped and much praised legs. She had a huge hit with The Broom Girl! which she first sang at the Haymarket Theatre in 1826. She began manager of the Olympic Theatre in 1830, and after her marriage to Charles Mathews in 1838, managed Covent Garden and the Lyceum Theatres for some time.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Madame Vestris (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Glazed porcelain with wooden twigs. |
| Brief description | Glazed ceramic figurine of Madame Vestris as the Broom Girl, a character she first performed at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 1826. Chamberlain Worcester, ca.1830 |
| Physical description | Painted porcelain figure of a woman on an integral circular base. She wears a blue laced bodice, a pink knee-length skirt and a white cap. She holds a twig broom in her raised right hand, and a bundle of twigs in her left. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996 |
| Production | Chamberlain figures are rare as the factory mainly made dinner services and weighty material. Chamberlain sold these figures for 7/6 each. New brooms cost 6d. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | 18th and 19th century theatrical stars were often celebrated in paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures and ceramics. Small figurines of performers proved lucrative for ceramic firms like Chamberlain's Worcester Porcelain, the firm founded by Robert Chamberlain in 1783 which flourished until 1850 and which produced this figurine of Madame Vestris. The actress, singer and theatre manager Lucia Elizabeth Vestris (1797-1865), was born Elizabeth Bartolozzi in London. Aged sixteen she married the dancer Armand Vestris and although they separated, she kept his name professionally. She could have specialised in opera but instead worked in burlesque and comedy roles, having her earliest success in 1820 in a burlesque, or parody, of Mozart's Don Giovanni called Giovanni In London. She made a name for herself in Paris and London, famous for her 'breeches' roles, portraying men and revealing her well-shaped and much praised legs. She had a huge hit with The Broom Girl! which she first sang at the Haymarket Theatre in 1826. She began manager of the Olympic Theatre in 1830, and after her marriage to Charles Mathews in 1838, managed Covent Garden and the Lyceum Theatres for some time. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.990-1996 |
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 | October 20, 2009 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
