Watercolor with pen and brown ink on medium, smooth, cream wove paper
Dimensions:
Mount: 9 7/8 x 11 3/8 inches (25.1 x 28.9 cm)
Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:
Inscribed in pen in brown ink, lower center: "Modern Grace - or the Operatical Finale of the Ballet of Alonzo e cara -" ; in graphite, on mount, lower right: "19x12 1/2 mount open with gold strip ["blue" crossed out] grey over mount" Inscribed by hand by L.G. Duke, in black-gray ink, on beige, medium, smooth paper that has been mounted on the matted frame of object, center: "On the fifteen of May following [ie. 1796] Gillray caricatured this new style of Dancing [ie. the small | [enormity?] of apparel which was allowed to the [Dansseurs?], and the freedom with which they exposed their forms | to public view"] in a caricature entitled 'Modern Grace; or the operatical finale to the ballet of 'Alanzo | e Caro.' Thomas Wright, 'Caricature History of the Georges' (1867), p555. | The ballet was 'Alonzo e Cora', and Gilray substitutes 'Caro' [flesh] for Cora. Rowlandson | follows the Gillray print closely, but writes 'Cara' for 'Caro' | An advt. in the Morning Chronicle of April 2, 1796, announces the production of Alonzo e Cora. | The three chief Dancers, l to r, are Mme Rose, Didelot, & Mlle, Parisot. The advt. also | names Mlle Hilligsberg. The Danseures (danseures is underlined) were famous. Mme. Rose became Mme Rose Didelot. Didelot | himself became famous as Premier Danseur(premier danseur is underlined), ballet master, & producer. The Ballet [...?] | Dealt with the customs & pastimes of the [...?] of Paris". In blue ink, lower right of inscribed sheet: "The ballet, by Onorati, had its first performance | on April 6, 1796" in dark gray ink, lower right: "LGD"
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1975.3.72
Classification:
Drawings & Watercolors
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Subject Terms:
men | women | ballet | dancers | costume | genre subject