‘Electric star on dancer’
Date
1893
Creator
J P Barrett (British) , Illustrator
Object type
Library reference
56882
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (painting): 110mm
width (painting): 90mm
width (painting): 90mm
Subject
Description
Portrait of a dancer from from an Oscar Barrett production of the ballet Little Red Riding Hood at the Crystal Palace, 1892. This rear view of the costume includes a head-star illuminated by an electric light powered by a portable battery which is visible in a small satchel at the performer’s waist.
Figure 64 from the book Portative electricity by J T Niblett (London, 1893).
The plate is titled “Electrical Star in Dancer. Front view” and initialled “J.P.B.”
The first costume stage lighting of this type was used at the Savoy Theatre in a Richard D’Oyly Carte production of Iolanthe in 1882. The then-novel electric lights were pioneered by Sir Joseph Swan FRS (1828-1914) and were the origin of the term ‘fairy lights’.
Figure 64 from the book Portative electricity by J T Niblett (London, 1893).
The plate is titled “Electrical Star in Dancer. Front view” and initialled “J.P.B.”
The first costume stage lighting of this type was used at the Savoy Theatre in a Richard D’Oyly Carte production of Iolanthe in 1882. The then-novel electric lights were pioneered by Sir Joseph Swan FRS (1828-1914) and were the origin of the term ‘fairy lights’.
Associated place