Drawing
1916 (drawn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature of Albert Chevalier is from the fourth album that the commercial artist George Cooke used for his caricatures of music hall and variety performers. It contains caricatures drawn from 1910 to 1919. Originally from Yorkshire, George Cooke specialised in designing illustrated publicity material for performers. These included flyers, letterheads, posters and newspaper advertisements. He was based at the Grand Theatre for several years. The theatre was designed by Frank Matcham and opened in 1894. Cooke later moved to Blackpool, where he drew performers at the Palace Theatre.
By 1917 Cooke appears to have moved to London, where he established Cooke’s Publicity Agency at 453 The Strand. We know that he had considered a move to London for some time, since in May 1906, when he was still in Hanley, a note from him was printed in the variety artistes’ magazine The Performer. It read:
Phil Ray says my work’s too good for Hanley; I ought to be in London. But I want money to start with. Who’ll give me some! Griff can’t afford now he’s two families to keep. But he wishes me luck. Many thanks, old friend. GEORGE COOKE, Caricaturist, Hanley.
Phil Ray and Griff were both performers whose caricatures feature in Cooke’s albums.
By 1917 Cooke appears to have moved to London, where he established Cooke’s Publicity Agency at 453 The Strand. We know that he had considered a move to London for some time, since in May 1906, when he was still in Hanley, a note from him was printed in the variety artistes’ magazine The Performer. It read:
Phil Ray says my work’s too good for Hanley; I ought to be in London. But I want money to start with. Who’ll give me some! Griff can’t afford now he’s two families to keep. But he wishes me luck. Many thanks, old friend. GEORGE COOKE, Caricaturist, Hanley.
Phil Ray and Griff were both performers whose caricatures feature in Cooke’s albums.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour and gouache on paper |
| Brief description | Watercolour and gouache portrait of the music hall performer Albert Chevalier (1861-1923). By George Cooke. |
| Physical description | Watercolour and gouache portrait of the music hall performer Albert Chevalier drawn on pink paper which is glued to a green page of the album |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'Yours sincerely Albert Chevalier March 18th / 16. Blackpool' (Inscribed in black ink.) |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This caricature of Albert Chevalier is from the fourth album that the commercial artist George Cooke used for his caricatures of music hall and variety performers. It contains caricatures drawn from 1910 to 1919. Originally from Yorkshire, George Cooke specialised in designing illustrated publicity material for performers. These included flyers, letterheads, posters and newspaper advertisements. He was based at the Grand Theatre for several years. The theatre was designed by Frank Matcham and opened in 1894. Cooke later moved to Blackpool, where he drew performers at the Palace Theatre. By 1917 Cooke appears to have moved to London, where he established Cooke’s Publicity Agency at 453 The Strand. We know that he had considered a move to London for some time, since in May 1906, when he was still in Hanley, a note from him was printed in the variety artistes’ magazine The Performer. It read: Phil Ray says my work’s too good for Hanley; I ought to be in London. But I want money to start with. Who’ll give me some! Griff can’t afford now he’s two families to keep. But he wishes me luck. Many thanks, old friend. GEORGE COOKE, Caricaturist, Hanley. Phil Ray and Griff were both performers whose caricatures feature in Cooke’s albums. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.395:6-2002 |
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| Record created | April 27, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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