Not currently on display at the V&A

Drawing

1886 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This line drawn illustration was created for publication in a newspaper/illustrated magazine. It shows an unruly crowd of gentleman gathered in the interior of an unindentified theatre. The men appear to be standing and seated in one of the upper galleries as one of their number is leaning forward over the edge of the gallery, reaching desperately for the top hat which has fallen from his hand. Most of the gentlemen are on their feet, many of them shouting and waving their hats, and even umbrellas, in the air. The image is not signed and the theatre is not identified, but annotation on the rear indicates that it was created in 1886.

This item is one of several theatrical drawings from a collection of sketches commissioned from contemporary artists to be printed in illustrated magazines. The collection was donated to the museum by Sir William James Ingram in 1914.



Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
ink on paper
Brief description
Line drawn illustration created for publication in a newspaper/illustrated magazine. It shows an unruly crowd of gentleman gathered in the interior of an unindentified theatre. Given by Sir William Ingram in 1914.
Physical description
Line drawn illustration created for publication in a newspaper/illustrated magazine. It shows an unruly crowd of gentleman gathered in the interior of an unindentified theatre. The men appear to be standing and seated in one of the upper galleries as one of their number is leaning forward over the edge of the gallery, reaching desperately for the top hat which has fallen from his hand. Most of the gentlemen are on their feet, many of them shouting and waving their hats, and even umbrellas, in the air. The image is not signed and the theatre is not identified, but annotation on the rear indicates that it was created in 1886.
Dimensions
  • Height: 21cm
  • Width: 36.5cm (approximate)
Marks and inscriptions
  • Vol.LXXXVIII.p.419.1886 (Handwritten annotation in pencil, on the rear of the image)
  • Transliteration
Credit line
Given by Sir William Ingram
Object history
Sir William Ingram (27 October 1847 – 18 December 1924) was a Liberal politician who was elected to, and sat, in the House of Commons on three occassions between 1878 and 1895. He was also the Managing Director of The Illustrated London News from the late 1870s until 1900 and became the proprietor of a number of additional publications including The Sketch and The English Illustrated Magazine.

The Illustrated London News was the world's first illustrated weekly newspaper. Founded by Sir William Ingram’s father, Herbert Ingram, in 1842 the first edition was sold on 14th May 1842 at a cost of sixpence per copy. Building from an original circulation of 26,000 to in excess of 300,000 at its peak, The Illustrated London News remained in print until 2003 and commissioned illustrations from many of the leading artists of the late nineteenth century. Photographs were used alongside illustrations from the late 19th century onwards but illustrations were a major feature of paper until after the end of the First World War.

Historical context
This sketch was one of a group of prints and pencil and pen and ink sketches donated to the museum in 1914 by Sir William Ingram (1847–1924). Part of this collection was originally donated to the Prints and Drawings Department with the majority later passing to the Theatre and Performance Department. The full collection includes work by a variety of artists amongst whom are: A. J Finberg; Ralph Cleaver; F.V.Poole and Rossi Ashton. Though not all the publications for which they were created are identified the majority of the sketches were commissioned for, and appeared in, The Illustrated London News, The English Illustrated Magazine or The Sketch.

Sir William Ingram became the proprietor of The Illustrated London News in the mid to late 1870s and remained in post until circa 1900 when he was succeeded by his he was succeeded by his son, Bruce Stirling Ingram (1877–1963). He also became the proprietor of The Sketch amongst other papers in which capacity he gave commissions to many leading artists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
Summary
This line drawn illustration was created for publication in a newspaper/illustrated magazine. It shows an unruly crowd of gentleman gathered in the interior of an unindentified theatre. The men appear to be standing and seated in one of the upper galleries as one of their number is leaning forward over the edge of the gallery, reaching desperately for the top hat which has fallen from his hand. Most of the gentlemen are on their feet, many of them shouting and waving their hats, and even umbrellas, in the air. The image is not signed and the theatre is not identified, but annotation on the rear indicates that it was created in 1886.

This item is one of several theatrical drawings from a collection of sketches commissioned from contemporary artists to be printed in illustrated magazines. The collection was donated to the museum by Sir William James Ingram in 1914.

Collection
Accession number
S.378-2011

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

Record createdDecember 22, 2011
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest