Kean as Richard III, directed to the left, stands on a large volume with the word 'Shakespear' written on the top edge. Resting on his head and humped shoulders is a model of Drury Lane Theatre, a massive block, inscribed 'Whitbreads Intire.' On the roof is poised an ugly figure of Fame, blowing through a trumpet 'Puff Puff Puff', and holding behind her a second trumpet, from which issue the words 'Puff Puff P'. At the entrance to the theatre straddles a tiny Whitbread, his legs and arms projecting from a cask which forms his body; he says: "Now by St Paul the work goes bravely on" (altering Richard's words from 'this news is bad indeed'). Kean stoops, leaning on a cross-hilted sword, inscribed 'A Keen supporter'; he has misshapen bandy legs. He says: "Well, as you guess." He wears an ermine-trimmed cap encircled by a crown, slashed doublet and trunk hose, a sleeveless coat bordered with ermine and embroidered with a (Yorkist) rose, with flapped and spurred boots. (The figure, with the position of the arms altered, is a travesty of J.J. Hall's portrait of Kean interrogating Stanley on the approach of Richmond. The costume is correct.) The stage is indicated by curtains flanking the design. In the background are clouds of smoke.--Adapted from British Museum
Description:
Title from text etched below image., Complete imprint statement and dimensions supplied from British Museum impression., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark with loss of characters in the publisher's name.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 7th, 1814 by H. Humphrey, St. James's Street
Subject (Geographic):
England and London.
Subject (Name):
Kean, Edmund, 1787-1833, Kean, Edmund, 1787-1833,, Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616,, and Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (London, England)
A monument to David Garrick with a putto holding a copy of the portrait of Garrick by Sir Joshua Reynolds just below the urn at the top. Below them, the muses of Comedy and Tragedy mourn along with three other putti and various theatrical emblems. At the bottom of the monument is engraved a quote from Shakespeare: " ... take him for all in all, we shall not look upon his like again."
Description:
Title from a separately engraved plate below the image. The title is followed by a verse from Sheridan, in two columns, three lines each, and a dedication: "This plate is done from the grand scene in the Monody, in honour of Garrick at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, is respectfully dedicated by their most obedient humble servt. Thos. Letton. The portrait from a picture of Sr. Joshua Reynolds, in the collection of Sr. Thos. Mills." and Thin gold paper border mounted on wash-lined mount.
Publisher:
Pub. May 23, 1781, for the proprieor T. Letton, by Mr. Picot, facing Hungerford Coffee House, Strand & Mr. Harris, Sweetings Alley, Cornhill
Subject (Geographic):
England.
Subject (Name):
Garrick, David, 1717-1779
Subject (Topic):
Monuments, Actors, Monuments & memorials, and British
"Kemble (scarcely caricatured), as Rolla (the noble Peruvian), stands with his left hand pointing upwards, his right arm thrown back, his head in profile to the right. He wears quasi-classical dress, with barbarian adornments, feathered head-dress, heavy gold belt, and ornaments. The costume appears substantially correct, with some exaggeration of the gold chains and ornaments."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Leaf 26 in an album with the spine title: Characatures by Dighton., and Figure identified as "Kemble" in pencil below plate mark.
Publisher:
Robert Dighton
Subject (Name):
Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816. and Kemble, John Philip, 1757-1823
An oversized John Bull with a carbuncled-faced sits at a round table across from a very young looking William Betty and his father, both handsome and not caricatured. John Bull toasts the two, full wine glass in hand: "Youngster, heres to you I'm glad to see you in town. Old Master Roscius your health, and may you get such another boy every New Year's Day for the benifit [sic] of the English stage." Behind them pinned to the wall are two prints: the one a profile portrait of Mrs. Siddons, hangs from one corner only, and the other a portrait of J.P. Kemble. The three ostrich feathers on the back of Master Betty's chair may indicate the patronage of the Prince of Wales
Description:
Title etched below image., Printseller's stamp in lower right corner: S.W.F., and Description from British Museum catalogue of "Young Roscius and Don John" mounted on verso.
Publisher:
Pubd January 4, 1805, by S.W. Fores, No. 50 Piccadilly
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Betty, William Hen. West 1791-1874. (William Henry West),, Siddons, Sarah, 1755-1831, and Kemble, John Philip, 1757-1823
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Theater, Actors, British, and Child actors
The profile of an actor in the role of a Spanish nobleman bears a strong resemblance to that of David Garrick, in costume on stage looking left, arm raised in a dramatic gesture. Garrick's rule over the English stage was absolute for over thirty years. He went to London with Dr. Johnson in 1737, and by 1741 had progressed to his famous portrayal of Richard III, which made his reputation. Garrick was accomplished in seventeen Shakespearian roles and was also a gifted playwright and producer
Alternative Title:
Shadow box framed depiction David Garrick on stage
Description:
One of a pair of shadowboxes. The other box was titled in the 2005 Christie's appraisal: A shadowbox framed depiction of two actors in performance. and Provenance from a label affixed to the top of one of a pair of boxes, in Mrs. Lewis hand.
The dancer wearing a Roman toga is perhaps David Garrick, with Mrs. Siddons accompanying him on the lute. In his imaginary journey through time, Three tours through London in the years 1748, 1776, 1797 (New Haven, 1941), Wilmarth S. Lewis 'goes' to the London theatre of 1776 where "Garrick still requires that those playing a scene with him shall turn their backs to the audience when addresssing him so that there will be no question whatever of its attention being diverted from him. Failure to observe this rule ... caused young Mrs. Siddons to fall into disfavour and contributed to her dismissal from the company."
Alternative Title:
Shadow box framed depiction two actors in performance
Description:
One of a pair of shadowboxes. The other box is titled: A shadowbox framed depiction David Garrick on stage. and Provenance from a label affixed to the top of one of a pair of boxes, in Mrs. Lewis hand.
Subject (Name):
Garrick, David, 1717-1779. and Siddons, Sarah, 1755-1831.
Volume 1, opposite page 102. Memoirs of the life of the Right Honourable Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Description:
Collective title devised by cataloger., Each drawing has the title of Sheridan's play "The Rivals" written in ink above, as well as the depicted actor's name, the name of the character portrayed, the theater name, and the performance date written in ink below., Statement of responsibility "by W. Loftie" added in pencil for each drawing, in lower right corner of sheet., Date from partially trimmed watermark on sheet of upper right drawing: 1794 [J. W]hatman., and Mounted together opposite page 102 (leaf numbered '154' in pencil) in volume 1 of an extra-illustrated copy of Thomas Moore's Memoirs of the life of the Right Honourable Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
Subject (Name):
Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816., Dodd, James William, 1740?-1796, Farren, Elizabeth, 1762-1829, Kemble, John Philip, 1757-1823, and Johnstone, John Henry, 1749-1828
Title, artist, and date of publication from original oil painting in Victoria and Albert Museum, museum no.: DYCE.80. and Sheet trimmed close to plate mark.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
British.
Subject (Name):
Liston, John, 1776-1846, and Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.
"Portrait, half-length seated directed slightly to left,looking away, right arm thrown out, left hand at his lapel, the elbow porpped on a table beside a volume labelled 'Shakspeare', wearing a double-breasted coat with a high collar and a frilled white cravat; before letters or border."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from lettered state., Artist and printmaker from statements of responsibility on lettered state: M.A. Shee R.A. pinxt. ; W. Sharp sculpt., First state according to Baker, before letters or border., and For a lettered state with the imprint "London, Published by W. Sharp, April 7, 1803," see British Museum online catalogue, registration no.: 1841,0809.180.
