 |
Tightrope Dancer and Musicians
Maker unknown, probably Paris, France
c. 1875-1885
37-1/4"h x 13-3/4"w x 12"d
The Murtogh D. Guinness Collection
Morris Museum
|
Windows Media Player is required to play movie
clips. |
Automata makers brought together many skills to make any
one piece. Here, you can see a number of craftspeople represented-from
the seamstress who created the costumes, to the glassblower
who created the dome, to the cabinetmaker who made the base.
The subject matter draws upon 19th-century ideas about "exoticism." The
scene evokes Moorish architectural history, suggesting the
arches and columns of the renowned Spanish Alhambra, an Islamic
palace built in the 1300s.
Next Highlight >>
|
