Male Actor in Ballet Costume
Drawing with a design for a male ballet costume, consisting of a highly ornamented tonnelet and matching knee breeches with grotesque motifs. The tonnelet, whose structure almost resembles a classical Roman armor, is decorated with an open-winged bat on the chest, which is flanked by strips with beads; similar strips with beads make up the upper part of the sleeves, the shoulders adorned with a cartouche around another bead, and with long, hanging sleeves with ruffled points below the level of the elbows. On the stomach is a grotesque face, and below it, the front part of the tonnelet's skirt is made up of four panels with grotesque heads, crowned by stylized fleurs de lis, from which hang tassels; the back of the skirt is made up of ruffled points, in a fashion similar to the sleeves. Under the tonnelet is a chemise with a pattern of diamonds and cuffs with gems and ruffled borders, and matching knee breeches, with the same diamond pattern and border with gems, and grotesque heads on the knees. A choker with gems, flanked by triangles also with gems makes up the collar of the chemise. An elaborate headdress with scrolling motifs and branches with stylized leaves adorns the long, loose, curly hair. Plain, white stockings and square-toed, high-heeled shoes with jeweled rosette brooches and other gems cover the legs and feet.
Artwork Details
- Title: Male Actor in Ballet Costume
- Artist: After (?) Jean Berain (French, Saint-Mihiel 1640–1711 Paris)
- Date: n.d.
- Medium: Pen and black ink over chalk
- Dimensions: 16 7/8 x 12 1/16 in. (42.8 x 30.7 cm)
- Classification: Drawings
- Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1963
- Object Number: 63.562.10
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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Jean Berain
n.d.
Jean Berain
[1659]
Jean Berain
1655–1711
Multiple artists/makers
1655–1711
Jean Berain
ca. 1687
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