The Ballet and Opera Stars

The Dolls Can Be Divided into Three Groups:

This first group is the Ballet and Opera Stars. The young Victoria was allowed to visit the opera and the Ballet and she being an accomplished artist, would sketch her favorite characters and then dress and name her dolls after them.  30% of the dolls in this category take the surname of a popular ballerina of the era named Marie Taglioni.

These 3 examples are all of Marie Taglioni in different ballet costumes.

The one to the far left is 'Madame Galdstre Taglioni'. This invented name combines the surnames of the two principal dancers in 'La Tyrolienne', Taglioni and the lesser known Madame Galdstre. This ballet was performed at Covent Garden between 1832 and 1833.

The one in the middle is 'Mademoiselle Sophie Taglioni' combining the ballerina's name with that of her stage character Sophie in 'La Tyrolienne'. In her sketchbook Victoria drew Marie Taglioni and her brother Paul perform this dance together onstage at Covent Garden.

The one to the far right is 'Mademoiselle Rosalie Taglioni' combining the ballerina's name with that of her stage character Rosalie in 'La Resemblance'.