Artwork
The Celebrated
The Celebrated is a print by the Romanticist artist Alfred Edward Chalon. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Their costumes look light and layered, almost like stiff party dresses.
This print shows four famous ballerinas on stage in 1845. Alfred Edward Chalon made it to celebrate their performance together. The image captures a moment when women ruled the ballet world.
Their costumes look light and layered, almost like stiff party dresses. The skirt style you see here became standard for ballet. It was a big shift—men’s roles were shrinking fast.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see this print in person.
Overview
This 1845 print, created by Alfred Edward Chalon, commemorates a historic performance at Her Majesty's Theatre, featuring four renowned ballerinas of the era: Carlotta Grisi, Marie Taglioni, Lucile Grahn, and Fanny Cerrito, united in the celebrated 'Pas de Quatre'.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork captures a pivotal moment in ballet history when female dancers dominated the stage, with male roles in decline. The 'Pas de Quatre' embodied this shift, showcasing the ascendancy of the ballerina.
Technique & Style
The print depicts the ballerinas in costumes reflective of the emerging standard ballet attire: low-cut, pointed bodices and layered, bell-shaped skirts (with tarlatan tiers and a diaphanous overlay), influenced by period fashion.
History & Provenance
Commissioned to celebrate the July 12th, 1845, performance at Her Majesty's Theatre, the print is now part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection, available for public viewing.
Context
The late 1840s saw a significant decline in male dancer prominence, often reduced to supportive roles or absent, with some male parts later performed by women in men's attire.
Legacy
The 'Pas de Quatre' print, through its depiction of pioneering ballerinas and their attire, highlights a transformative period in ballet history, influencing the development of both the art form and its iconic costume design.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alfred Edward Chalon was a Swiss-born British portraitist. He lived in London where he was noticed by Queen Victoria.
