Rare Signed Engraving in 'La Gitana'

Uncommon signed engraving of the famous Italian ballerina of the Romantic ballet era, a central figure in the history of European dance, depicted during a performance in her father's ballet, La Gitana. Taglioni has signed in ink to the lower right. Published by Bettini Lithography of Bologna, ca. 1842. Heavy fold creasing and foxing throughout, cropping at the lower margin, two hole punches to the upper margin; overall in very good condition. 12 x 19 inches (30.5 x 48.3 cm.).
The famous ballerina's autograph is uncommon in most forms. This is one of the only signed images of her we have ever encountered, as she has walked the largest European stages, from Paris to Vienna, only for a very limited period of her life.

The most celebrated member of the Taglioni dynasty, Marie Taglioni made her Milanese debut in 1841, when she appeared at La Scala in her father Filippo's ballet La Gitana (1838), the story of a girl abducted as a child by Gypsies. Born in Stockholm in 1804, Marie was her father's pupil and protegée. His rigorous teaching instilled strength as well as the lightness and fluidity that defined her unique gifts and the attributes of Romantic style. Although Amalia Brugnoli had worked on pointe, it was Marie, with her ethereal, virginal grace, exemplified in her father's ballet La Sylphide (1832), who made this technique a cornerstone of the expressive universe of ballet Romanticism.  (21468)

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Dance

Autograph Document

Art

$3,000.00

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