[Vestris, Gaetano Apolline Baldassarre. (1729–1808)] Sandby, Paul. (1731–1809)
Six guineas entrance and a guinea a lesson
A satirical etching and aquatint of the great eighteenth-century French dancer Gaetano Apollino Baldassare Vestris by Paul Sandy, published by the artist, 1781. Printed in sepia, on cream laid paper with large watermark of a two-headed eagle, sheet 379 x 337 mm. (14 7/8 x 13 1/4 in), trimmed within platemark, central vertical fold, three small repaired nicks to right hand edge, one encroaching within image, minor handling creases, light surface dirt. BM Satires 5909. Nicely framed.
Scarce. The gentleman instructing the duck is the great French dancer and ballet master, Gaetano Apollino Baldassare Vestris. Born of an Italian theatrical family, he studied dance with Louis Dupré at the Royal Academy in Paris, later joining the Paris Opéra where he served as dancing master to Louis XVI. Vestris was the first dancer to discard the mask and to use his face in mime. By 1751 his success and his vanity had grown to such a point that he is reported to have said, "There are but three great men in Europe--the king of Prussia, Voltaire and I." From 1770 to 1776 he was a master and composer of ballets, retiring, in favour of Jean Georges Noverre, with a pension. Gaetano had several children who also became dancers - the lover of French ballerina Marie Allard, their son Auguste Vestris (1760–1842) was also considered the greatest male dancer of his time.
It is thought Sandby executed this satire after arriving to give Vestris a drawing lesson in his home, only to be kept waiting for an inordinately long time while the French master finished a dancing lesson.
Autograph Document Dance Ephemera Art & Design Art/Sculpture