Not currently on display at the V&A

Madame Saqui, or Marguerite-Antoinette Lalanne (1876-1866) performing on the Tightrope at Vauxhall Gardens, 1820

Print
01/02/1820 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Madame Saqui, or Marguerite-Antoinette Lalanne (1786-1866) made her name in her native France as a tightrope walker and rope dancer. In April 1816 her performance at Covent Garden Theatre descending a tightrope stretched at an incline over the auditorium, made her name in England and became the subject for a cartoon by George Cruikshank entitled 'A Wonderfull (sic) Thing from Paris, or Madame Sacchi Gratifying John Bull's Curiosity'.

George Rogers Barratt and Jonathan Tyers Barrett, the proprietors of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, subsequently engaged her there for four years, where her hugely popular act act included her descent at a run, on an inclined tightrope stretched from a mast, to one of the main walkways, in a storm of exploding fireworks.





Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleMadame Saqui, or Marguerite-Antoinette Lalanne (1876-1866) performing on the Tightrope at Vauxhall Gardens, 1820 (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Engraving, printed ink on paper
Brief description
'Madame Saqui the Celebrated Rope Walker at Vauxhall', engraving by Alais after the original by William Henry Flerio Hutchisson, London, 1820, Harry Beard Collection
Physical description
Print 'Madame Saqui tightrope walking', engraving by Alais, London, 1820, Harry Beard Collection
Dimensions
  • Height: 23.3cm
  • Width: 14.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Madame Saqui / The celebrated Performer on the Rope at Vauxhall.' (Printed below portrait)
Credit line
Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard.
Subject depicted
Summary
Madame Saqui, or Marguerite-Antoinette Lalanne (1786-1866) made her name in her native France as a tightrope walker and rope dancer. In April 1816 her performance at Covent Garden Theatre descending a tightrope stretched at an incline over the auditorium, made her name in England and became the subject for a cartoon by George Cruikshank entitled 'A Wonderfull (sic) Thing from Paris, or Madame Sacchi Gratifying John Bull's Curiosity'.

George Rogers Barratt and Jonathan Tyers Barrett, the proprietors of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, subsequently engaged her there for four years, where her hugely popular act act included her descent at a run, on an inclined tightrope stretched from a mast, to one of the main walkways, in a storm of exploding fireworks.



Associated objects
Other number
Collection
Accession number
S.2034-2013

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Record createdMay 24, 2013
Record URL
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