Portrait of Clotilde Augustine Mafleurai (1776-1826), half-length, as a muse

Clothilde Malfleuray (Mafleuray or Malflattrai) was born in Paris in 1776. One of the most famous dancers of the late 18th and early 19th century, she was renowned for her beauty and grace, and seductive nature. She studied under Gardel and Vestris the Elder and quickly found immense fame. Following her debut in 1793, she was described as 'cette jeune personne est bien bustée; ses mouvements sont doux; elle a de l’aplomb les dispositions qui annoncent une distinguée’ (Affiches, Annonces et Avis divers, 21 May 1793, p. 1206). In 1802 she married the composer Francois Adriaen Boieldieu, however the marriage soon broke down due to her immersion in a world of dissipation. Bloieldieu departed for Russia in 1803 and they formally separated in 1806. For a further description of her life see G. Favre, La Danseuse Malfleurai, premiere femme d’Adriaen Boieldieu, Paris, 1940 and G. Favre, Boieldieu sa vie - son oeuvre, Paris, 1944, pp. 119-124.