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PH1312
Photographs: PH1312
Title
Maud Allan
Subject
Dimensions
height: 15.5cm
width: 10cm
width: 10cm
Inscription/signature
Provenance
Donated to the Club in November 2022 by Mr Michael Gaunt
Other number
E0131
Ths is a modern photographic copy of a postcard or photographic print of the dancer and choreographer Maud Allan as Salome, performing 'The Vision of Salome'. The dance was based on Oscar Wilde's one act play 'Salome' written in 1891. There is a postcard in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, published by Foulsham & Banfield, in 1908, depicting Allan in a similar pose in front of a backdrop of steps and pillars. Allan is seen wearing the costume that made her performance contreversial, in a low hung transparent skirt, wearing a bra made from jewels and beads, and a head dress made from pearls.
Allan first performed the dance in Vienna in December 1906. In September 1907 she was invited for a command performance in front of King Edward VII, in the resort of Marienbad (now in Czechoslovakia) which led to her being introduced to Alfred Butt, who booked her for a two week stint at the Palace Theatre in London's West End. After a period of touring and performing, Allan returned to London in 1918, to reprise her performance in 'The Vistion of Salome'. This time however, the performance was held privately with audience members applying for a ticket via an advert in the paper. This was arranged in such a way to get around the Lord Chamberlain's law on depicting biblical characters on stage. This performance led Noel Pemberton Billing, an MP and founder of a magazine called 'The Vigilante' to denouce Allan as a lesbian and an associate of German war-time consirators. Allan sued Pemberton Billing, unfortunately the trial only furthered Pemberton Billings' assertion that Allan was immoral, by further linking Allan to disgraced playwright Oscar Wilde, and her brother who had been hanged for murderl. After this Allan's career floundered and she returned to Los Angeles to live with her parents.
Allan first performed the dance in Vienna in December 1906. In September 1907 she was invited for a command performance in front of King Edward VII, in the resort of Marienbad (now in Czechoslovakia) which led to her being introduced to Alfred Butt, who booked her for a two week stint at the Palace Theatre in London's West End. After a period of touring and performing, Allan returned to London in 1918, to reprise her performance in 'The Vistion of Salome'. This time however, the performance was held privately with audience members applying for a ticket via an advert in the paper. This was arranged in such a way to get around the Lord Chamberlain's law on depicting biblical characters on stage. This performance led Noel Pemberton Billing, an MP and founder of a magazine called 'The Vigilante' to denouce Allan as a lesbian and an associate of German war-time consirators. Allan sued Pemberton Billing, unfortunately the trial only furthered Pemberton Billings' assertion that Allan was immoral, by further linking Allan to disgraced playwright Oscar Wilde, and her brother who had been hanged for murderl. After this Allan's career floundered and she returned to Los Angeles to live with her parents.
