Not currently on display at the V&A

H Beard Print Collection

Print
ca.1856 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This music sheet is illustrated with a photograph of the celebrated comedian and singer, the diminutive Frederick Robson (1821-1864) dressed as the Italian opera singer Adelaide Ristori playing Medea, which she had done in Paris in 1856 in Ernst Legouvé's 3-act opera Medea.

Robson (1821-1864) who was born in Margate Thomas Brownhill, became a star of London's Olympic Theatre and eventually one of its managers. He had a great talent for burlesque, or performances that parodied the originals, and he was a hit in the burlesque Medea, or, Best of Mothers with a Brute of a Husband written by Robert Brough, which opened at the Olympic Theatre on 14 July 1856. Charles Dickens noted in one of his letters that in it Robson performed: 'a frantic song and dagger dance, about 10 minutes long altogether, which has more passion in it than Ristori could express in 50 years.'


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleH Beard Print Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Lithotint
Brief description
Song sheet cover for 'Medea's Quadrilles' from The Travestie of Medea, depicting Frederick Robson (1821-1864) as Medea, published by Davidson, Harry Beard Collection.
Physical description
Song sheet cover for 'Medea's Quadrilles' from The Travestie of Medea, depicting Frederick Robson as Medea.
Dimensions
  • Height: 34.4cm
  • Width: 24.2cm
Subject depicted
Literary referenceThe Travestie of Medea
Summary
This music sheet is illustrated with a photograph of the celebrated comedian and singer, the diminutive Frederick Robson (1821-1864) dressed as the Italian opera singer Adelaide Ristori playing Medea, which she had done in Paris in 1856 in Ernst Legouvé's 3-act opera Medea.

Robson (1821-1864) who was born in Margate Thomas Brownhill, became a star of London's Olympic Theatre and eventually one of its managers. He had a great talent for burlesque, or performances that parodied the originals, and he was a hit in the burlesque Medea, or, Best of Mothers with a Brute of a Husband written by Robert Brough, which opened at the Olympic Theatre on 14 July 1856. Charles Dickens noted in one of his letters that in it Robson performed: 'a frantic song and dagger dance, about 10 minutes long altogether, which has more passion in it than Ristori could express in 50 years.'
Associated objects
Other number
F.153-68 - H Beard collection numbering
Collection
Accession number
S.5108-2009

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Record createdJanuary 8, 2010
Record URL
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