Not currently on display at the V&A

H Beard Print Collection

Print
early 19th century (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A full length colour lithograph of an unnamed actress entitled 'Costume Cracovien' in Le Diable à Quatre. It is not dated but was printed in Paris by J. Rigo &Co, a printing house which was active in the early to mid nineteenth century. Text at the top of the print indicates that it was part of a series of prints entitled 'Gallerie Dramatique' and connected with productions at Théâtre de l'Opéra.

Le Diable à Quatre or 'The Devil to Pay' has been both a comic opera and a ballet. This costume seems more likely to come from the ballet which was first presented by the Ballet of the Académie Royale de Musique on August 11, 1845. The Principal dancers in this performance were Carlotta Grisi (as Mazourka) and Lucien Petipa (as Count Polinski).

The costume is question is associated with the 'Cracovienne' a Polish Folk Dance which featured in many ballets during this period and was favoured by the Romantic ballerina, Fanny Elssler. On the heels of the dancer in the print are little spurs, which would have provided a metallic click in the rhythm of the dance.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleH Beard Print Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Lithography
Brief description
A full length colour lithograph of an unnamed actress entitled 'Costume Cracovien' in Le Diable à Quatre. Not dated. Printed by J.Rigo &Co. Harry Beard Collection.
Physical description
A full length colour lithograph of a women in male costume. She wears a white jacket belted at the waist and trimmed with red at the base, hem and centre front. This is worn with white breeches striped with pale blue and thigh length black boots. She stands in the midst of a country landscape, with her arms folded, leaning slightly to her right.
Dimensions
  • Height: 27cm
  • Width: 17.7cm
Credit line
Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard
Literary referenceLe Diable à quatre
Summary
A full length colour lithograph of an unnamed actress entitled 'Costume Cracovien' in Le Diable à Quatre. It is not dated but was printed in Paris by J. Rigo &Co, a printing house which was active in the early to mid nineteenth century. Text at the top of the print indicates that it was part of a series of prints entitled 'Gallerie Dramatique' and connected with productions at Théâtre de l'Opéra.

Le Diable à Quatre or 'The Devil to Pay' has been both a comic opera and a ballet. This costume seems more likely to come from the ballet which was first presented by the Ballet of the Académie Royale de Musique on August 11, 1845. The Principal dancers in this performance were Carlotta Grisi (as Mazourka) and Lucien Petipa (as Count Polinski).

The costume is question is associated with the 'Cracovienne' a Polish Folk Dance which featured in many ballets during this period and was favoured by the Romantic ballerina, Fanny Elssler. On the heels of the dancer in the print are little spurs, which would have provided a metallic click in the rhythm of the dance.
Collection
Accession number
S.534-2010

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Record createdMay 18, 2010
Record URL
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