Tinsel Print
Early nineteenth century (published)
| Artist/Maker |
This print shows the actor Edmund Kean as he appeared in the role of Othello. This was one of the tragic roles for which Kean became famous and was in fact the last role he played on stage, when he appeared with his son Charles Kean (who played Iago) at Covent Garden on the 25th March 1833.
Tinsel prints were created from etched portraits of theatrical stars in popular roles they played on the London stage. They were hand-painted in watercolour and decorated with scraps of material and tinsel additions. They were popular during the first half of the 19th century and were considered an adult, rather than a child's hobby. By the 1830s it was possible to buy the tinsel, leather and feather ornaments to go with each image.
Tinsel prints were created from etched portraits of theatrical stars in popular roles they played on the London stage. They were hand-painted in watercolour and decorated with scraps of material and tinsel additions. They were popular during the first half of the 19th century and were considered an adult, rather than a child's hobby. By the 1830s it was possible to buy the tinsel, leather and feather ornaments to go with each image.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Tinsel print of the actor Edmund Kean in the role of Othello. |
| Physical description | This print shows actor Edmund Kean 'blacked up' to play the part of Othello. He is dressed in a white silk tunic richly ornamented with metallic beads and with a border of crescent moons around the hem. He wears a crimson sash around his waist which matches the trim at the base of his tunic. Both his hands are upraised, in his left he holds aloft an ornate oil lamp. A canopied bed, within which Desdamona is lying, is visible in the background behind him. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Subject depicted | |
| Literary reference | Othello |
| Summary | This print shows the actor Edmund Kean as he appeared in the role of Othello. This was one of the tragic roles for which Kean became famous and was in fact the last role he played on stage, when he appeared with his son Charles Kean (who played Iago) at Covent Garden on the 25th March 1833. Tinsel prints were created from etched portraits of theatrical stars in popular roles they played on the London stage. They were hand-painted in watercolour and decorated with scraps of material and tinsel additions. They were popular during the first half of the 19th century and were considered an adult, rather than a child's hobby. By the 1830s it was possible to buy the tinsel, leather and feather ornaments to go with each image. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.37-1983 |
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| Record created | March 11, 2010 |
| Record URL |
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