Artwork
MADEMOISELLE TAGLIONI,
MADEMOISELLE TAGLIONI, is a print by the Romanticist artist Emma Soyer. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This print captures Marie Taglioni in a solo from the ballet La Gitana, showcasing her versatility as a 19th-century ballerina.
About this work
Overview
This print captures Marie Taglioni in a solo from the ballet La Gitana, showcasing her versatility as a 19th-century ballerina.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts Taglioni in a Spanish-style costume, performing a dance that rivaled Fanny Elssler's Cachucha. The flowers on the floor represent tributes from her admirers, indicating the solo's enthusiastic reception.
Technique & Style
Taglioni is shown balancing on one toe with curved arms, wearing a costume characteristic of the evolving 'ballet' attire of the time: a bell-shaped skirt with tiers of tarlatan and a diaphanous top layer.
Context
La Gitana, a Romantic ballet, tells the story of a child stolen from her aristocratic parents and raised by gypsies. Taglioni's performance challenged her rival Elssler, demonstrating her range beyond ethereal roles.
Artist & collection
Artist
Elizabeth Emma Soyer, née Jones (5 September 1813 – 30 August 1842) was an English painter, known as Emma Jones or Emma Soyer.
