Theatre ballerina collection

Representations of performers appearing in theatrical works presented in Paris between 1809 and 1865. Each print depicts a single figure in costume for the performance. The prints were published by the Parisian firm of Martinet, sometimes called Hautecoeur Martinet or Hautecoeur Frères. Although most of the prints in this collection have been trimmed and lack series caption titles, they were probably published in the series Petite galerie dramatique or Galerie dramatique. The printing and publishing house of Maison Martinet was founded in 1796 by Aaron Martinet, 1762-1841, who became well-known for publishing satirical prints. In 1822 the firm assumed the name Hautecoeur-Martinet, after Martinet's son-in-law Hermenégilde Hautecoeur, who became its head after Martinet's retirement in 1824.