Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Françoise Ravel as Bibi
(18th and 19th Centuries )
Baltimore artist Alfred Jacob Miller is known primarily for his paintings of the American West, but his interests extended beyond this subject. A prolific sketcher, he filled many journals with drawings and captions from the time he was studying in Paris and Rome (1833) until the 1870's. The interests of Miller are clearly reflected in these sketches: the theater (a large portion being quick figure drawings of the Ravel Pantomime Troupe), studies of works by the Old Masters, literary illustrations, childhood memories, Baltimore scenery, and witty scenes of characters.
Depicted here is one of the original members of the Ravel PantomimeTroupe, a french family that toured America in the middle of the 19th century. The french pantomimes performed in multiple theatres in Baltimore. The shows included tight-rope dancing, ballet, and balancing acts in addition to the pantomime. The plots were so complex they were compared to those of the Italian Opera. As someone who frequented the shows, Miller has provided a view that is almost otherwise unrecorded.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Alfred Jacob Miller, Jr.; Norton Asner, Baltimore, 1959 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Mrs. Alan Wurtzburger [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, June 11, 1968, by gift.
Geographies
USA (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 9 1/16 x W: 6 1/2 in. (23 x 16.5 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Alan Wurtzburger, 1968
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
37.2453.14