Not currently on display at the V&A

Queen Victoria at the theatre

Drawing
1892 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Line drawn illustration created for publication in The Penny Illustrated Paper, showing Queen Victoria and Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) watching a performance of Bizet's Carmen at Windsor, 1892.

An annotation of the reverse of the sketch notes that the performance took place in 'The Waterloo Chamber' at Windsor Castle on 3 December, 1892. The Waterloo Chamber was built in tribute to the success of the forces of Great Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia at the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815 when Napoleon Bonaparte was finally defeated. A vast and imposing room, it was frequently used as a venue for theatrical and musical performances during Queen Victoria's reign, and a temporary stage was often erected for these events.

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
TitleQueen Victoria at the theatre (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink on paper
Brief description
Line drawn illustration created for publication in The Penny Illustrated Paper, showing Queen Victoria and Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) watching a performance of Bizet's Carmen in the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle, 1892

Physical description
Line drawn illustration created for publication in the Penny Illustrated Paper. Showing, in the foreground, an illustrous audience, with Queen Victoria (1819-1901) and her son, Edward VII (1841-1910), then Prince of Wales at its centre. They are watching a performance of Carmen which is taking place on stage in the background of the sketch. At the foot of the stage an orchestra is playing. An annotation on the reverse notes that the performance took place in 'The Waterloo Chamber' at Windsor Castle on 3 December 1892.
Dimensions
  • Height: 38.8cm
  • Width: 31.7cm (approximate)
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'P.I.P., 9 3/4 in high' (Handwritten annotation in crayon at the base of the illustration)
  • 'Waterloo Chamber/Windsor - 3rd Dec 1892' (Handwritten annotation in pencil on reverse)
  • 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.
Subject depicted
Summary
Line drawn illustration created for publication in The Penny Illustrated Paper, showing Queen Victoria and Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) watching a performance of Bizet's Carmen at Windsor, 1892.

An annotation of the reverse of the sketch notes that the performance took place in 'The Waterloo Chamber' at Windsor Castle on 3 December, 1892. The Waterloo Chamber was built in tribute to the success of the forces of Great Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia at the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815 when Napoleon Bonaparte was finally defeated. A vast and imposing room, it was frequently used as a venue for theatrical and musical performances during Queen Victoria's reign, and a temporary stage was often erected for these events.

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.384-2011

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Record createdJanuary 5, 2012
Record URL
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