Drawing
ca.1930 (drawn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Caricature self portrait by George Robey (1869-1954), one of Britain’s most successful music hall comedians, a master of comic songs, caricatures and sketches, who became known as 'the Prime Minister of Mirth'.
George Robey made his first appearance on the London stage at the Aquarium in 1891. After appearing at the Oxford Music Hall in London the same year, he was engaged for most of the leading London halls. His ‘trademark’ stage appearance is captured in this caricature - a collarless frock coat, a semi-clerical bowler hat and enormous black eyebrows which he raised quizzically to great comic effect. He could make audiences cry helplessly with laughter just by coming on stage and looking at them, asking them to 'desist from this unseemly merriment'. A versatile performer, he was able to develop a career in revue, starring in The Bing Boys Are Here in 1916, and in the 1930s he appeared in both light opera and serious drama, playing Falstaff in Henry IV Part 1 in 1935. He received a knighthood in 1954, the year of his death.
George Robey made his first appearance on the London stage at the Aquarium in 1891. After appearing at the Oxford Music Hall in London the same year, he was engaged for most of the leading London halls. His ‘trademark’ stage appearance is captured in this caricature - a collarless frock coat, a semi-clerical bowler hat and enormous black eyebrows which he raised quizzically to great comic effect. He could make audiences cry helplessly with laughter just by coming on stage and looking at them, asking them to 'desist from this unseemly merriment'. A versatile performer, he was able to develop a career in revue, starring in The Bing Boys Are Here in 1916, and in the 1930s he appeared in both light opera and serious drama, playing Falstaff in Henry IV Part 1 in 1935. He received a knighthood in 1954, the year of his death.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and ink on card |
| Brief description | Caricature self-portrait by George Robey, pen and ink, ca.1930. |
| Physical description | Small pen and ink caricature self portrait by George Robey, head and shoulders, facing front, sketched on the back of a postcard. Black ink, with his nose hatched in red. He has distinctive half moon shaped eyebrows and wears a collarless jacket and bowler hat. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by the British Theatre Museum Association |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Caricature self portrait by George Robey (1869-1954), one of Britain’s most successful music hall comedians, a master of comic songs, caricatures and sketches, who became known as 'the Prime Minister of Mirth'. George Robey made his first appearance on the London stage at the Aquarium in 1891. After appearing at the Oxford Music Hall in London the same year, he was engaged for most of the leading London halls. His ‘trademark’ stage appearance is captured in this caricature - a collarless frock coat, a semi-clerical bowler hat and enormous black eyebrows which he raised quizzically to great comic effect. He could make audiences cry helplessly with laughter just by coming on stage and looking at them, asking them to 'desist from this unseemly merriment'. A versatile performer, he was able to develop a career in revue, starring in The Bing Boys Are Here in 1916, and in the 1930s he appeared in both light opera and serious drama, playing Falstaff in Henry IV Part 1 in 1935. He received a knighthood in 1954, the year of his death. |
| Other number | 1972/A/47 - BTMA accession number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.1114-2010 |
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| Record created | June 22, 2010 |
| Record URL |
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