Rosita Mauri: The Catalan Ballerina Immortalized by Impressionists
Rosita Mauri, born Isabel Amanda Rosa Mauri Segura (1849/1856–1923), was a prominent ballerina hailing from Reus, Spain. She learned traditional dance from her father, Pere Mauri, before studying classical ballet with Henri Dervine. In 1877, she graced the stage of La Scala, where Charles Gounod recommended her to the Paris Opera. By 1881, Mauri had achieved the status of prima ballerina and was photographed by Nadar. She influenced notable artists such as Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet, León Comerre, and Anders Zorn. Around 1900, Denys Puech created a bust of her. Stéphane Mallarmé lauded her in 'Les Deux Pigeons.' After retiring in 1897, she taught at the Conservatory of the Opera de Paris and passed away in 1923, resting in Montparnasse Cemetery, Paris.
Key facts
- Rosita Mauri was a Catalan ballerina born in Reus, Spain, between 1849 and 1856.
- She trained under Henri Dervine and performed at La Scala in Milan in 1877.
- Charles Gounod recommended her to the Paris Opera, where she became prima ballerina.
- Edgar Degas painted her in 'Fin de l'arabesque' (1876) at Musée d'Orsay.
- Édouard Manet painted her portrait around 1879, now at Pushkin Museum.
- Anders Zorn created two portraits of her in 1888–1889, held at the Met and Gothenburg Museum.
- Denys Puech made a marble bust of her around 1900, at Musée Denys-Puech.
- Stéphane Mallarmé wrote about her performance in 'Les Deux Pigeons'.
- She retired in 1897 and later taught at the Paris Opera Conservatory.
- Mauri died in 1923 and is buried in Montparnasse Cemetery, Paris.
Entities
Artists
- Rosita Mauri
- Isabel Amanda Rosa Mauri Segura
- Pere Mauri
- Henri Dervine
- Nadar
- Félix Nadar
- Edgar Degas
- Charles Gounod
- Édouard Manet
- León Comerre
- Anders Zorn
- Denys Puech
- Stéphane Mallarmé
Institutions
- Gran Teatre del Liceu
- La Scala
- Paris Opera
- Musée d'Orsay
- Pushkin Museum
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Gothenburg Museum of Art
- Musée Denys-Puech
- Conservatory of the Opera de Paris
- Montparnasse Cemetery
- Camées Artistiques
Locations
- Reus
- Catalonia
- Spain
- Barcelona
- Milan
- Italy
- Paris
- France
- Moscow
- Russia
- New York City
- NY
- USA
- Gothenburg
- Sweden
- Rodez