Not currently on display at the V&A

Watercolour of the Adelphi Theatre

Watercolour
1818 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This watercolour painting shows the exterior of the Adelphi Theatre in 1818. A group of audience members are entering the theatre and their coaches and horses are waiting outside. Amongst the crowds are a number of women dressed in bonnets and shawls, accompanied by gentlemen dressed in top hats and pantaloons. There is also a small flower seller carrying a wicker basket.

The Adelphi Theatre was founded in 1806 as the Sans Pareil ("Without Compare"), by merchant John Scott, and his daughter Jane (1770–1839) who was a British theatre manager, performer, and playwright. Together, they gathered a theatrical company and by 1809 the theatre was licensed for musical entertainments, pantomime, and burletta. In 1819 Jane Scott retired to Surrey, marrying John Davies Middleton (1790–1867) and in October of that year the theatre reopened under its present name, which was adopted from the Adelphi Buildings opposite.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleWatercolour of the Adelphi Theatre (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour
Brief description
Watercolour painting of the exterior of the Adelphi Theatre, signed Morand and dated 1818.
Physical description
A watercolour painting of the exterior of the Adelphi Theatre showing audience members entering the theatre and coaches and horses waiting outside. Amongst the crowds are a number of women dressed in bonnets and shawls, a small flower seller carrying a wicker basket and gentlemen dressed in top hats and pantaloons.
Dimensions
  • Height: 11.3cm
  • Width: 7.7cm
Place depicted
Summary
This watercolour painting shows the exterior of the Adelphi Theatre in 1818. A group of audience members are entering the theatre and their coaches and horses are waiting outside. Amongst the crowds are a number of women dressed in bonnets and shawls, accompanied by gentlemen dressed in top hats and pantaloons. There is also a small flower seller carrying a wicker basket.

The Adelphi Theatre was founded in 1806 as the Sans Pareil ("Without Compare"), by merchant John Scott, and his daughter Jane (1770–1839) who was a British theatre manager, performer, and playwright. Together, they gathered a theatrical company and by 1809 the theatre was licensed for musical entertainments, pantomime, and burletta. In 1819 Jane Scott retired to Surrey, marrying John Davies Middleton (1790–1867) and in October of that year the theatre reopened under its present name, which was adopted from the Adelphi Buildings opposite.
Collection
Accession number
S.373-1985

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Record createdFebruary 19, 2010
Record URL
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