Don Jerome
Costume Design
1924 (painted)
1924 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This painting by George Sheringham shows Nigel Playfair as Don Jerome in The Duenna, the comic opera by Richard Brinsley Sheridan first seen at Covent Garden Theatre in 1775. This production by Nigel Playfair opened at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith on 23 November 1924 and was widely praised for its costume and set designs by George Sheringham representing 18th century Spanish dresses and scenery.
Nigel Playfair's 1920 production of John Gay'sThe Beggar's Opera at the Lyric Theatre had set new standards in the fresh production of 18th century work, and The Duenna was considered a worthy successor. George Sheringham inscribed this painting especially for Nigel Playfair so it may be a painting of him in the role rather than Sheringham's initial costume design. It depicts Don Jerome at the comic moment in the opera when he brings his blunderbsss downstairs at night to shoot the gentleman serenading his daughter Donna Louisa outside their house.
Nigel Playfair's 1920 production of John Gay'sThe Beggar's Opera at the Lyric Theatre had set new standards in the fresh production of 18th century work, and The Duenna was considered a worthy successor. George Sheringham inscribed this painting especially for Nigel Playfair so it may be a painting of him in the role rather than Sheringham's initial costume design. It depicts Don Jerome at the comic moment in the opera when he brings his blunderbsss downstairs at night to shoot the gentleman serenading his daughter Donna Louisa outside their house.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Don Jerome (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and bodycolour on card |
| Brief description | Nigel Playfair as Don Jerome in The Duenna by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, 23 October 1923. Painted for Nigel Playfair by George Sheringham who designed the production. |
| Physical description | Pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and bodycolour painting of Nigel Playfair as Don Jerome in The Duenna, showing him standing holding a blunderbuss. He is wearing a nightcap and a long black dressing gown patterned with a repeating pattern of three coloured circles, mostly white, pink, grey and buff-coloured. He wears white stockings and black shoes. It is titled by the artist 'Don Jerome' and inscribed 'NIGEL PLAYFAIR from George Sheringham'. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Beryl Playfair |
| Object history | This was presented to the museum by Beryl Playfair, daughter-in-law of Nigel Playfair. |
| Historical context | The Duenna by Richard Brinsley Sheridan opened at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith on 23 November 1924. Nigel Playfair, who played Don Jerome, directed the production which was designed by George Sheringham. It seems likely from the inscription that Sheringham painted this epecially for Nigel Playfair rather than it being his initial costume design. It shows him in the scene where he brings his blunderbuss downstairs at night to shoot the gentleman who is serenading his daughter Donna Louisa, played by Elsa Macfarlane. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This painting by George Sheringham shows Nigel Playfair as Don Jerome in The Duenna, the comic opera by Richard Brinsley Sheridan first seen at Covent Garden Theatre in 1775. This production by Nigel Playfair opened at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith on 23 November 1924 and was widely praised for its costume and set designs by George Sheringham representing 18th century Spanish dresses and scenery. Nigel Playfair's 1920 production of John Gay'sThe Beggar's Opera at the Lyric Theatre had set new standards in the fresh production of 18th century work, and The Duenna was considered a worthy successor. George Sheringham inscribed this painting especially for Nigel Playfair so it may be a painting of him in the role rather than Sheringham's initial costume design. It depicts Don Jerome at the comic moment in the opera when he brings his blunderbsss downstairs at night to shoot the gentleman serenading his daughter Donna Louisa outside their house. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.46-2003 |
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| Record created | July 19, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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