"A struggling crowd, partly within and partly without the pit door, a spiked gateway, of Drury Lane Theatre. Men, respectably dressed but of plebeian appearance, stand in the foreground on the outskirts of the crowd or fight their way in, some with sticks. There are a few women; one who has fainted but is in an erect position owing to the crowd, is being revived with smelling-salts. A man is vomiting. In the foreground two lady's hats, the ribbons partly torn off, lie on the ground with shoes and the broken fragments of a shoe-buckle. In the background two ladies and a man are passing through a narrow door into the theatre itself; through the doorway is seen a section of an upper gallery and boxes below it, both crowded. On the exterior wall, above the heads of the crowd, is a playbill ..."--British Museum online catalogue, description of the related print
Alternative Title:
Porte du parterre
Description:
Title from related print, which bears both the English title "The pit door" and the French title "La porte du parterre"., Unsigned and undated; artist attribution and approximate date from those assigned to the related print in the British Museum catalogue. See no. 6769 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum, v. 6., Inscribed on poster in upper center portion of image: By Command of their MAJESTIES. At the Theatre Royal Drury Lane The Grecian Daughter And Euphrasia Mrs Siddons To which will be added The Devil to Pay Tomorrow the Tragedy of Hamlet HAMLET by MR KEMBLE., and Laid down on wove paper with watermark "B. E. & S."
Subject (Geographic):
England and London.
Subject (Name):
Kemble, John Philip, 1757-1823., Siddons, Sarah, 1755-1831., and Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (London, England),
Subject (Topic):
Theaters, Crowds, Gates, Doors & doorways, Vomiting, Loss of consciousness, and Signs (Notices)
"A four-footed monster, with four human heads, the long hairy body resembling that of a dog, stand in an open space in front of the theatres of Covent Garden (left) and Drury Lane (right), the latter partly obscured by clouds rising from the ground, and with the statue of Apollo, headless as in British Museum Satires No. 10764. The three main heads are those of Sheridan, saying "Ha, ha, ha," Kemble saying "Oh!!!!!", with a tragic expression, and of a clown (evidently Grimaldi) with painted face and blue wig, saying, "Nice Moon". A dagger is thrust into Kemble's neck, blood gushing from the wound. A fourth head wearing a mask, that of Harlequin, looks over the back of the monster, who wears a Harlequin coat over its fore-legs and the front part of its body. It has a long barbed tail inscribed 'A Tail of Mistery'. The monster's fore-paws rest on a paper: 'Regular Dramas Congreve Beaumont and Fletcher Colman' [attacked in British Museum Satires No. 5064, now a standard author]. A hind-foot rests on 'Shakespear's Works'. Under its body are a number of modern dramatists, some of whom suck from its many teats. They are portraits, and some are identified by the titles of plays by which they stand. On the left. Frederic Reynolds bestrides a large dog (Carlo) by 'The Caravan' [see British Museum Satires No. 10172, &c.]. A man sits on the shoulders of a monk with cloven hoofs in order to reach a teat; the monk (Lewis) stands on 'Wood Daemon' [a 'Grand Romantic Melo-Drama' by M. G. ('Monk') Lewis, first played at Drury Lane 1 Apr. 1807 (cf. British Museum Satires No. 10727)]. Holcroft, wearing spectacles (as in BMSat 9240), stands on the 'Road to Ruin' [see British Museum Satires No. 8073]. Skeffington, wearing long striped pantaloons, stands on his 'Sleeping Beauty' [see British Museum Satires No. 10455]. On the extreme right. Dimond, tall, thin, and foppish, stands on his 'Hunter of the Alps', played at the Haymarket in 1804. There are five other men, less prominent, and unidentified by inscriptions. Behind, an old man (or woman) drives a flock of geese past the arcade of Covent Garden Theatre."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from British Museum catalogue. and Plate from: The Satirist, v. 1, page 225.
Publisher:
Published for the Satirist, Decr. 4th, 1807, by S. Tipper, Leadenhall Street
Subject (Geographic):
England and London
Subject (Name):
Covent Garden Theatre,, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (London, England)., Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Kemble, John Philip, 1757-1823, Grimaldi, Joseph, 1779-1837, Grimaldi, Joseph, 1779-1837., Kemble, John Philip, 1757-1823., and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816.
"Interior of theatre, seen from the back of the stalls, looking towards the stage; as it appeared before it burned down in September 1808; an orchestra assembled towards the back of the stage, behind a choir at the front; the theatre packed with spectators; candle chandeliers hanging around room from the different levels of the circles."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Plate numbered in upper right, above image: Plate 27., and Plate from: Microcosm of London. London : R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts, No. 101 Strand, [1808-1810?], v. 1, opposite page 212.
Publisher:
Publish'd 1 July 1808 at R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts, 101 Strand
"Interior view of the theatre, looking towards the stage; a performance taking place; the galleries, boxes, and pit filled with spectators."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Plate numbered in upper right, above image: Plate 32., and Plate from: Microcosm of London. London : R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts, No. 101 Strand, [1808-1810?], v. 1, opposite page 228.
Publisher:
Pub. 1st Augt. 1808 at R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts, 101 Strand
"Interior view of the theatre, seen from the back of one of the galleries, looking towards the stage; during a performance."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Plate numbered in upper right, above image: Plate 69., and Plate from: Microcosm of London. London : R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts, No. 101 Strand, [1808-1810?], v. 3, opposite page 41.
Publisher:
Pub. June 1st, 1809, at R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts, 101 Strand
"Interior view of the circus in St George's Fields; a circular arena in centre, and stage to the right; a performance taking place on the stage, and standing spectators occupying arena, others watching from surrounding galleries."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Plate numbered in upper right, above image: Plate 66., Plate from: Microcosm of London. London : R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts, No. 101 Strand, [1808-1810?], v. 3, opposite page 13., and Watermark: J. Whatman 1809 W. Balston.
Publisher:
Pub. 1st May 1809 at R. Ackrmann's [sic] Repository of Arts, 101 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
St. George's Fields., London (England), England, and London.
Subject (Name):
New Royal Circus (London, England) and Surrey Theatre.
Subject (Topic):
Circuses & shows, Theaters, Audiences, Spectators, and Interiors
"The stage of Covent Garden Theatre is seen from the right with a small part of the pit in the left foreground; the boxes and galleries adjoining the stage form the background on the left. The pittites are standing and blow trumpets, spring rattles, ring bells, and shout. Those in the crowded boxes behave in the same way; with one exception all are men. Two men occupy each of the two boxes over the stage-door; they watch passively. The musicians' seats are empty, but candles burn beside their open music-books, and one of the orchestra stands facing the audience, threatening them with fist and baton. On the stage three men stand together addressing the audience. The man in the centre holds out a paper: 'Riot Act'; he says: "We shall Read the riot act". Behind them stands Kemble wearing a tail-coat and white trousers, appealing to the audience with his hands meekly together as if in prayer. Large notices and placards hang from the galleries and boxes: 'Old Prices' [five times]; 'Harris will but Kemble won,t'; 'No Kembles No more insults'; 'Kemble remember the Dublin Tin Man'; 'No Foreign Sofas'; 'Iohn Bull against Iohn Kemble'; 'No Catalani'; 'Old Prices' [three times]; 'No Italian Private Boxes'; '£6000 for Caterwauling'; 'Catalani', below a print of a cat dressed as a woman, and singing 'Me Yo' from a music-book; 'No Catalani!! Mountain-- Billington, and Dickons for ever'; 'Ol Price for ever No caterwauling'; 'Old Prices No Catalani'; a gigantic placard: 'Statement-- £ Subscribed -- £80-000 Fire Office -- 50-000 Old Materials -- 25-000 155-000 New Theatre ---- 150-000 Managers of it ---- 5-000' Held up by a 'John Bull' in the pit who blows a trumpet: 'No Catalani No Pigeon Holes Old Prices No Private Boxes'. A man shouts from a box: "Off Off Off Off"; he springs a rattle."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Isaac and George Cruikshank in the British Museum catalogue., Date of publication from British Museum catalogue., and Matted to 47 x 54 cm, with a token for a box seat, Prince's side (BPS), New Theatre Covent Garden 1809.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
England and London.
Subject (Name):
Kemble, John Philip, 1757-1823., Nares, John, 1754-1816., Billington, Elizabeth, 1765-1818., Catalani, Angelica, 1780-1849., Dickons, Maria, approximately 1774-1833., Harris, Thomas, -1820., Reed, James, active 1808., Mountain, Rosoman, approximately 1768-1841., and Covent Garden Theatre,
Subject (Topic):
Interiors, Stages (Platforms), Actors, Orchestras, Theater audiences, Theaters, and 1809
"A more realistic rendering of the squib, illustrated in British Museum Satires No. 11414, &c., the text slightly altered. Seven designs in two rows, three above and four below, the verses etched across the upper part of each. [1] A close-up view of part of the east front of the new theatre, not accurately drawn, but showing the portico and its flanking sculptures of 'Antient Drama' and 'Modern Drama'. Above: 'This is . . .' [&c.]. [2] An arc of the third tier of boxes, showing three boxes crowded with fashionables in polite conversation; one lady only looks at the stage, using a glass. Above: 'These are the Boxes . . .' [&c.]. [3] A similar view of three pigeon-holes showing lighted chandeliers suspended from brackets below them. The occupants of the front row sit, those behind stand in a massed crowd; all are behaving well. Above: 'These are the Pigeon holes made for the poor, over the Boxes . . .' [&c.]. [4] A bust portrait of Catalani, singing, with tense bony neck, a claw-like hand on her breast. Above: 'This is the Cat . . .' [&c.]. [5] A bust portrait of an obese neatly dressed 'cit' in profile to the left, fiercely blowing a trumpet from which issues the word 'Hiss'. In his right hand is a paper: 'The Age of Reason [cf. No. 8646] a New Comedy perform[ed] by J Bull & C°'. Above: 'This is John Bull. . .' [&c.]. [6] A bust profile portrait of Townsend, neatly dressed, and wearing a top-hat. His right arm is outstretched as if to seize John Bull in the adjacent design; in his left hand is a constable's crowned staff. Above: 'This is the Thief taker . . .' [&c.]. [7] A bust portrait of Kemble, sternly frowning, in profile to the left, clasping a rolled document inscribed 'King John'. He wears ordinary dress with swathed neck-cloth and high-collared coat. Above: 'This is the Manager . . .' [&c.]. (Cf. British Museum Satires No. 11419.)"--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image. and Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue.
Publisher:
Pubd. Septr. 1809 by Walker, No. 7 Cornhill
Subject (Geographic):
England and London.
Subject (Name):
Catalani, Angelica, 1780-1849, Townsend, John, 1760-1832, Kemble, John Philip, 1757-1823, and Covent Garden Theatre,
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Theaters, Interiors, Chandeliers, Theater audiences, Bugles, Prices, and Anger
