Vice
Costume Design
ca.1860 (designed)
ca.1860 (designed)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This is a design by Richard Wynn Keene or Dykwynkyn (1809-1887), for the character of Vice, probably in a pantomime.The quote is a reference to the lines in Alexander Pope's poem Essay on Man:
Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As, to be hated, needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.'
Dykwynkyn specialised in costumes and 'big heads' for pantomimes, especially at Drury Lane and Her Majesty's Theatres in the 1860s, and in one playbill featuring his work was referred to as the 'artist, sculptor, mask and property maker and costume designer Richard Keene.' In an article of 1867 the playwright T.W. Robertson described him as 'the presiding genius of all theatrical Christmas revels.'
For his pantomime work Keene used the name Dykwynkyn which he often characteristically signed on an artist's palette on the ground. He was also responsible for designs for a number of other lavish productions of the day, and for these he was billed as Mr. R.W. Keene.
Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As, to be hated, needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.'
Dykwynkyn specialised in costumes and 'big heads' for pantomimes, especially at Drury Lane and Her Majesty's Theatres in the 1860s, and in one playbill featuring his work was referred to as the 'artist, sculptor, mask and property maker and costume designer Richard Keene.' In an article of 1867 the playwright T.W. Robertson described him as 'the presiding genius of all theatrical Christmas revels.'
For his pantomime work Keene used the name Dykwynkyn which he often characteristically signed on an artist's palette on the ground. He was also responsible for designs for a number of other lavish productions of the day, and for these he was billed as Mr. R.W. Keene.
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Title | Vice (assigned by artist) |
Materials and techniques | Pencil and watercolour on paper |
Brief description | Costume design for Vice, a character probably in an unidentified pantomime, ca.1860. Pencil and watercolour by Dykwynkyn - Richard Wynn Keene (1809-1887). |
Physical description | Pencil and watercolour costume design on cream paper for the character Vice, a grimacing bald man with a bulging stomach, a reptilian webbed ruff and skirt and bifocated toes, brandishing in his left hand a katar, or Indian punch-dagger, and holding a decanter in his right. Inscribed in ink below: 'Vice - is a monster so hideous in (mien) that to be hated - needs but - to be seen' |
Dimensions |
|
Marks and inscriptions |
|
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This is a design by Richard Wynn Keene or Dykwynkyn (1809-1887), for the character of Vice, probably in a pantomime.The quote is a reference to the lines in Alexander Pope's poem Essay on Man: Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As, to be hated, needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace.' Dykwynkyn specialised in costumes and 'big heads' for pantomimes, especially at Drury Lane and Her Majesty's Theatres in the 1860s, and in one playbill featuring his work was referred to as the 'artist, sculptor, mask and property maker and costume designer Richard Keene.' In an article of 1867 the playwright T.W. Robertson described him as 'the presiding genius of all theatrical Christmas revels.' For his pantomime work Keene used the name Dykwynkyn which he often characteristically signed on an artist's palette on the ground. He was also responsible for designs for a number of other lavish productions of the day, and for these he was billed as Mr. R.W. Keene. |
Collection | |
Accession number | S.246-2011 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | May 23, 2011 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest