The young dancer shown here is a performer in the popular burlesque opera titled Pet of the Opera running in London theaters in the 1840’s. The pose of the unidentified ballerina mirrors that made famous by the renowned Swedish star Marie Taglioni who is first to dance an entire play en pointe, first to don a tutu highlighting the movements of her legs, and who draws rave reviews for her 1845 recital of Pas de Quarte before Queen Victoria.
Pet of the Ballet
