Artwork
Melle Plunkett,
Melle Plunkett, is a print by the Impressionist artist Marie-Alexandre Alophe. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Melle Plunkett, / dans La Manola de la favourite is a print depicting the Belgian ballerina Adelina Plunkett in the title role of La Manola, a popular Spanish-inspired ballet piece of the 19th century.
Subject & Meaning
The print showcases Plunkett performing La Manola, a dance that, along with Fanny Elssler's cachucha, sparked a theatrical trend of Spanish dance adaptations. Despite neither Plunkett nor Elssler being Spanish, they were notably praised for their perceived authenticity in portraying Andalusian characters, a view met with skepticism by Spanish dancers.
Technique & Style
The depiction of Plunkett in La Manola reflects 19th-century ballet's approach to 'national' costumes: a modified traditional ballet dress (low neckline, fitted bodice, bell-shaped skirt) augmented with Spanish elements—a small bolero, hair secured in a comb, flounced skirt, and castanets.
Context
The artwork is set against the backdrop of 19th-century theatre's fascination with exoticized national dances. Ballets incorporated stylized costumes and choreography inspired by various countries, with 'Spanish' and 'Indian' being notable examples, each defined by specific, albeit stereotyped, accessories and attire.
Artist & collection
Artist
French lithographer who printed theater stars on silky paper in the 1860s. His prints capture ballerinas in *La Sylphide* and *Marco Spada*, Mademoiselle Fiocre in a Florentine drama, and Mademoiselle Plunkett twirling…
