H Beard Print Collection
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This print shows a quiet moment from a ballet story. Marie Taglioni plays the Sylph, a magical forest spirit. She kneels by Paul Taglioni, who plays James Reuben—a Scot preparing to marry. He sleeps unaware while she rests a hand on his leg in a gentle, loving way. The scene happens inside a rustic stone farmhouse. Reuben wears traditional Highland dress: kilt, sporran, gartered stockings and a feathered cap. The Sylph wears a simple white dress and has small translucent wings on her back. It’s held at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
![Mascaras crueles (Cruel Masks) [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/c8ed74cbe3eadfd0/thumb.webp)
