Not currently on display at the V&A

John Martin Harvey

Drawing
1915 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Head and shoulders portrait of the actor John Martin Harvey (1863–1944), by Will G. Stephen, 1915, signed and dedicated by the subject.

John Martin Harvey made his first stage appearance at the Court Theatre in 1881 and joined Henry Irving's company at the Lyceum Theatre the following year. He spent fourteen years with Irving, accompanying him on several British and four American tours. He left Irving's company in 1896 and three years later inaugurated his own management of the Lyceum with a version of Dickens's The Tale of Two Cities, entitled The Only Way, after Irving was forced to release his tenure. Martin Harvey's portrayal of Sydney Carton, the central figure who turns from a cynical drunkard to a heroic figure, assured his status as a star and one of Britain's last great romantic actors. He was associated with the role for the rest of his life, and after his knighthood in 1921 became known as Sir John Martin-Harvey, introducing the double-barrelled surname.



Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleJohn Martin Harvey (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Ink on art board
Brief description
Head and shoulders portrait of the actor John Martin Harvey (1863–1944), by Will G. Stephen, 1915, signed and dedicated by the subject
Physical description
Head and shoulders portrait of the actor John Martin Harvey. Ithows the sitted in a jacket, shirt and waistcoat. Signed by the artist in the lower left hand corner and signed and dedicated by Martin Harvey in the lower right hand corner.
Dimensions
  • Height: 35.8cm
  • Width: 28.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
'To MacHugh / with all good wishes, / Martin Harvey / 1915.' (Handwritten dedication in pen and ink, lower right hand corner)
Credit line
Given by the British Theatre Museum Association
Object history
Given to the British Theatre Museum Association by Mr H.McHugh in September1964.
Subject depicted
Summary
Head and shoulders portrait of the actor John Martin Harvey (1863–1944), by Will G. Stephen, 1915, signed and dedicated by the subject.

John Martin Harvey made his first stage appearance at the Court Theatre in 1881 and joined Henry Irving's company at the Lyceum Theatre the following year. He spent fourteen years with Irving, accompanying him on several British and four American tours. He left Irving's company in 1896 and three years later inaugurated his own management of the Lyceum with a version of Dickens's The Tale of Two Cities, entitled The Only Way, after Irving was forced to release his tenure. Martin Harvey's portrayal of Sydney Carton, the central figure who turns from a cynical drunkard to a heroic figure, assured his status as a star and one of Britain's last great romantic actors. He was associated with the role for the rest of his life, and after his knighthood in 1921 became known as Sir John Martin-Harvey, introducing the double-barrelled surname.

Other number
1964/G/73 - BTMA accession number
Collection
Accession number
S.1226-2014

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Record createdMay 23, 2014
Record URL
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