The Rival Artistes
17
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
17
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
The Rival Artistes is a 17 by A. Ducôte's, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This sketch shows two people mid-dance, arms wide and legs kicked high. One wears a big hat and a fancy dress, the other a loose tunic and pants. Both look like they’re spinning fast, almost falling over. The background is plain, but their poses are dramatic. The woman’s hat is huge, and the man’s face looks surprised. The words around them sound like they’re arguing about who’s better at dancing. It’s a funny way to show off skill. Look up Romanticism next to see how artists used drama and emotion in their work.
The print depicts a satirical confrontation between Lord Grey and the Duke of Wellington, each dressed in classical tunics and posed in stylized ballet positions. Lord Grey, standing on one leg with arms raised, claims superiority in balance, while Wellington, extending his right leg, boasts of his speed in turning. The dialogue below their figures underscores the political jab at Wellington’s shifting stance on Catholic Emancipation and the Reform Bill. Published in 1832 as a lithograph by A. Ducole, the work is titled *The Rival Artistes* and includes handwritten annotations identifying the…
Read the full account in the museum source.
A. Ducôte’s left us one crisp print, *The Rival Artistes* (17 July 1832), showing performers backstage in a moment of quiet rivalry. The scene fits the early decades of the 19th century, when prints like these captured…
See the richer artist page
