Artwork
The Pet of the Ballet.
The Pet of the Ballet. is a print by the Romanticist artist Robert Gallon. It dates from 1843 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This print shows a group of ballet dancers backstage. They’re not the stars—they’re the extras who pose and wait, dressed up as fairies, gypsies, or townspeople. The style is a little funny, not the usual fancy ballet image.
It’s part of a set of eight prints from 1843. They highlight the real dancers behind the scenes, not the famous ballerinas.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
The Pet of the Ballet. / No. 4. is a print from a series of eight created in 1843, depicting lesser-known ballet dancers backstage.
Subject & Meaning
The print shows a group of anonymous ballet dancers, often referred to as 'peris', 'nymphs', or 'gipsies', who served as extras in ballet performances, providing a decorative background for the principal ballerinas.
Technique & Style
The print's style is characterized by a slightly comedic tone and a more realistic representation of its subjects, diverging from the idealized portrayals common in 19th-century ballet prints.
History & Provenance
The title may be linked to an 'operatic choreographic burlesque Sketch' called 'The Pet of the Ballet', produced in London during the 1840s.
Context
These dancers were often nicknamed 'les petits rats' in Paris or 'les danseuses près de l'eau' in Russia, reflecting their secondary status and the challenging conditions they faced.
Artist & collection
