{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O184796"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O184796/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CR9075/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CR9075/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009CR9075","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O184796/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O184796","accessionNumber":"S.1352-2009","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"The Curious & Uncommon Performances of a Monkey as they will be introduced every Evening at Sadlers Wells by Signor Spinacuta","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"This print, composed from individual images published in a set of prints  the previous year, shows Le Chevalier des Singes, the monkey owned by Signor Spinacuta, performing on the tight and slack rope at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in 1767. Sadler’s Wells was a fashionable spa built by Mr Sadler in 1683 where patrons could take the waters from the original well.  By 1700 it had become a pleasure garden featuring among other entertainments rope dancing, tumbling and performing animals. Thomas Rosoman constructed a brick theatre on the site which opened in 1765 and it was at this theatre that Signor Spinacuta performed in 1767 with his talented rope-dancing monkey Le Chevalier des Singes.\r\n\r\nOn 3rd January 1767 <i>The Public Advertiser</i> advertised the appearance of Signor Spinacuta in London with Signor Placido’s Company at the Little Theatre in the Haymarket, prior to their engagement in Paris later that month. The advertisement notes that Signor Spinacuta will vault on the slack rope and play the mandolin and the violin on the tightrope, and that there will also be: ‘The most surprising and diverting performances on the Wire and Tight Rope by the Monkey.  He walks and dances on the Tight Rope with the Pole; he walks and balances … Equilibres on the Wire, with and without the Pole; he vaults and turns the Katharine Wheel on the Slack Rope to admiration. This Animal is the most astonishing of the Kind ever beheld, and has given general Satisfaction wherever Exhibited.'\r\n","physicalDescription":"Etched print of nineteen vignettes of Le Chevalier des Singes, Signor Spinacuta's monkey, performing on the tightrope and slack rope, on his own and with Signor Spinacuta.\r\nHe is shown standing on his head, lying on the tightrope, balancing a candelabra on his nose, wheeling a wheelbarrow, walking through a hoop, and holding flags and fireworks.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"print-making","id":"AAT131119"},{"text":"etching (printing process)","id":"AAT53241"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"etching","categories":[{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Acrobatics","id":"THES261737"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2009CR9075"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES356585"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Prints","id":"AAT41273"}],[{"text":"Etchings","id":"AAT41365"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 18th century","earliest":"1750-01-01","latest":"1799-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"33.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Print size","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"42.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Print size","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"37.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Total including mount","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"54.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Total including mount","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'The Curious & Uncommon Performances of a Monkey as they will be introduced every Evening at Sadlers Wells by Signor Spinacuta'. Anonymous etching, 1768, of Spignor Spinacuta with his funambulist monkey Le Chevalier des Singes, Harry Beard Collection.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[{"text":"Sadler's Wells","id":"x32799"}],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Spinacuta Signor","id":"AUTH338272"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.1352-2009"],"accessionNumberNum":"1352","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2009,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"H Beard collection numbering","id":"THES50444"},"number":"F.66-4"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-27","recordCreationDate":"2009-01-26","availableToBook":true}}