Print Collection

Fleury portrays Beatrix, the heroine of the ballet, dressed as Diana—the Roman goddess of the moon and hunt. Her pose, with bow, quiver, and crescent moon, evokes classical mythology, aligning the character with divine grace and ethereal power. This symbolism elevates the ballet’s narrative, transforming a romantic plot into an allegory of purity and otherworldly beauty, common in Romantic-era stage productions.

Brandard rendered the image in ink on paper using lithography, a popular medium for theatrical portraiture. Fleury is shown en pointe, her weight balanced on the tips of her toes, a technique still relatively new in 1844. The delicate lines emphasize her slender form and the lightness of her movement, while the minimal detail in costume and background directs focus to her posture and mythological attributes.

The print was produced to commemorate the London debut of La Jolie fille de Gand at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, where Fleury danced the role of Beatrix. It was issued by Messrs Fores, a known publisher of theatrical prints. The image preserves a fleeting stage moment, documenting Fleury’s performance before the ballet’s run ended and before pointe technique evolved with reinforced shoes later in the century.

By the 1840s, pointe work had transitioned from novelty to standard in female ballet roles, especially in Romantic-era productions. Choreographers used it to convey supernatural qualities, as seen in the pas de Diane. The ballet’s popularity in London reflected broader European fascination with mythic heroines and the idealized female dancer. This print captures a moment when dance technique and theatrical storytelling were becoming increasingly intertwined.

The print stands as an early visual document of pointe dancing’s artistic integration into ballet narrative. Though Fleury’s performance was ephemeral, Brandard’s image preserved her pose for wider circulation, influencing public perception of the ballerina as both athlete and mythic figure. It reflects the growing market for theatrical imagery and the role of print in shaping cultural memory of performance.