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, "The Pet of the Ballet. / No. 5," shows a dancer waiting in the wings. It’s part of a series of eight prints by Robert Gallon in 1843.
The series pokes fun at the small, unnamed dancers who fill the stage. They’re not the star ballerinas—just background figures. But they have their own charm.
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Overview
Robert Gallon’s 1843 print, titled “The Pet of the Ballet. / No. 5,” belongs to a set of eight images that depict anonymous ballet corps members. Unlike the idealised depictions common in nineteenth‑century ballet prints, Gallon’s work presents these figures with a modest, slightly comic realism, emphasizing their role as background performers rather than principal dancers.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a lone dancer waiting in the wings, a representative of the unnamed corps de ballet whose names appear only in programme listings as “peris,” “nymphs,” “sylphs,” or similar designations. By focusing on these peripheral figures, the series highlights the often‑overlooked labor that supports the star ballerina, offering a subtle commentary on the hierarchy within the theatrical world.
Technique & Style
Executed as a print, Gallon employs fine line work and delicate shading to convey the texture of costume and the soft lighting of a backstage setting. The composition balances humor with observation, using a restrained palette that reinforces the realistic portrayal while retaining a light‑hearted tone characteristic of mid‑century caricature.
Context
In Russia, comparable dancers were termed “les danseuses près de l’eau,” referencing their placement against painted fountain backdrops; in Paris they were mockingly called “les petits rats,” alluding to their gaunt appearance and constant snacking. The English title likely derives from an 1840s London operatic burlesque known as “The Pet of the Ballet,” reflecting contemporary theatrical slang.
History & Provenance
The print is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it forms part of the museum’s holdings of nineteenth‑century theatrical ephemera, documenting both the visual culture of ballet and the social attitudes toward its supporting cast.
Artist & collection
