Backcloth
1964 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The French artist Jean Hugo (1894-1984) produced this as one of a set of six canvases he painted for the Shakespeare Festival Exhibition, organised by the ballet critic Richard Buckle in Stratford-upon-Avon. Opened by Prince Phillip on 23 April 1964, the exhibition celebrated the quatercentenary of Shakespeare's birth and aimed to portray the world of Tudor England as it may have appeared to Shakespeare, but it was criticised for elements of gimmickry, a confusing mixture of styles, an exhibition guide that was hard to follow, and Buckle's extravagance. Nevertheless, Hugo's canvases depict Stratford in the understated, tranquil and lyrical style to which Buckle was so attracted.
Jean Hugo was born in Paris the great-grandson of the poet and novelist Victor Hugo. He was a painter, illustrator, theatre designer and author, whose artistic career spanned the 20th century and whose work brought him into contact with many of the most influential artistic figures of the 20th century including Jean Cocteau, Pablo Picasso, Paul Elouard, Francis Poulenc, Max Jacob, Cecil Beaton and many others.
Jean Hugo was born in Paris the great-grandson of the poet and novelist Victor Hugo. He was a painter, illustrator, theatre designer and author, whose artistic career spanned the 20th century and whose work brought him into contact with many of the most influential artistic figures of the 20th century including Jean Cocteau, Pablo Picasso, Paul Elouard, Francis Poulenc, Max Jacob, Cecil Beaton and many others.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Painted linen cloth |
| Brief description | Stage cloth designed by Jean Hugo for Shakespeare Quatercentenary Exhibition at Stratford-upon-Avon, organised by Richard Buckle. Painted linen cloth. |
| Physical description | Linen cloth painted in portrait format with a graveyard scene (the same location as S.108-2010); dark blue sky, white clouds, autumnal trees almost bare of leaves, yellow leaves on the ground, tombstones and a man in 20th century dress, leaning over, holding his hat in his left hand. Brass eyelets all the way round, approximately 22cm apart. Seams top and bottom, the right and left hand edges turned under and held together by the eyelets. Third of a set of six cloths. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | With label attached printed: 'Archer, Cowley & Co. Ltd. / Removals & Storage - Overseas Removals / Oxford'. Inscribed: '9.10.65 / Richard Buckle Esq / 6 Lge Canvases / 3/6'. |
| Credit line | Given by the Friends of the Museum of the Performing Arts |
| Object history | . |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | The French artist Jean Hugo (1894-1984) produced this as one of a set of six canvases he painted for the Shakespeare Festival Exhibition, organised by the ballet critic Richard Buckle in Stratford-upon-Avon. Opened by Prince Phillip on 23 April 1964, the exhibition celebrated the quatercentenary of Shakespeare's birth and aimed to portray the world of Tudor England as it may have appeared to Shakespeare, but it was criticised for elements of gimmickry, a confusing mixture of styles, an exhibition guide that was hard to follow, and Buckle's extravagance. Nevertheless, Hugo's canvases depict Stratford in the understated, tranquil and lyrical style to which Buckle was so attracted. Jean Hugo was born in Paris the great-grandson of the poet and novelist Victor Hugo. He was a painter, illustrator, theatre designer and author, whose artistic career spanned the 20th century and whose work brought him into contact with many of the most influential artistic figures of the 20th century including Jean Cocteau, Pablo Picasso, Paul Elouard, Francis Poulenc, Max Jacob, Cecil Beaton and many others. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.110-2010 |
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| Record created | October 8, 2010 |
| Record URL |
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