Gaétan Vestris

Who was Gaétan Vestris?

Gaetano Apolline Baldassarre Vestris, French ballet dancer, was born in Florence and made his debut at the opera in 1749.

Born of an Italian theatrical family, he studied dance with Louis Dupré at the Royal Academy in Paris, later joining the Paris Opéra where he served as dancing master to Louis XVI. Vestris was the first dancer to discard the mask and to use his face in mime.

By 1751 his success and his vanity had grown to such a point that he is reported to have said, "There are but three great men in Europe--the king of Prussia, Voltaire and I." He was an excellent mimic as well as dancer. From 1770 to 1776 he was a master and composer of ballets, retiring, in favour of Jean Georges Noverre, with a pension.

Vestris married a dancer, Anna Heinel, of German origin, who had a wonderful success at the opera. He reappeared at the age of seventy-one on the occasion of his grandson's debut.

Gaetano had several children who also became dancers. His illegitimate son Auguste Vestris was also considered the greatest male dancer of his time. Auguste made his debut at 12 with the Paris Opéra and was the company’s leading dancer for 36 years. Auguste Vestris's son, Auguste Armand Vestris, husband of Lucia Elizabeth Vestris, who took to the same profession, made his debut at the opera in 1800, but left Paris for Italy and Vienna and never reappeared in France. Gaetano's brother, Angiolo Vestris, married Marie Rose Gourgaud, the sister of the actor Dugazon. Their sister Therese was better known for her lovers than for her dancing.