Not currently on display at the V&A

Andrea Chenier

Design
1959 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Design for stage costumes worn by the National Guard in a production of <i>Andrea Chenier</i>, created by Leslie Hurry, 1959. The performers for whom the designs were created included the tenors Neville Griffiths, Haydn Hughes, and Basses Charles Draper and Ian McPherson.

Andrea Chenier by Umberto Giordano & Luigi Illica translated by Tom Hammond was produced by Anthony Besch for Sadler's Wells Opera initially at Coventry Theatre on 11 September 1959, and toured before its official premiere Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London on 13 October 1959.

Andrea Chenier was first produced at La Scala, Milan in 1896 but is not frequently performed in Britain. It is based loosely on the life of the French poet, André Chénier (1762-1794), who was executed during the French Revolution. The opera was chosen to open Sadler’s Wells Theatre after the building of a new proscenium arch for the stage and improved acoustics.

A review published in The Times 14th October, 1959, noted that ‘the sets and dresses by Leslie Hurry had the authentic French Revolutionary appearance.’






Object details

Category
Object type
TitleAndrea Chenier (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Black ink, watercolour and pencil drawing
Brief description
Design for stage costumes worn by the National Guard in a production of Andrea Chenier, created by Leslie Hurry, 1959
Physical description
Design for stage costumes worn by the National Guard in a production of Andrea Chenier, created by Leslie Hurry, 1959.

The design shows full length designs for two men. The figure on the left is dressed in a formal uniform with a bicorn hat, blue cutaway jacket, with gold epaulettes at the shoulders and close fitting pantaloons. He is carrying a gun in his left hand. The second figure, on the right, is wearing a long jacket with an upright collar, gold trimmed turned back cuffs and frogging at the shoulders. He is also wearing long, rough, pantaloons and a red, Phrygian caps. He is also carrying a gun in his left hand. Both men are wearing red, white and blue rosettes.
Dimensions
  • Height: 38.8cm
  • Width: 25.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'MOSSES, GRIFFITHS, HUGHES - McPHERSON - DRAPER' (Handwritten annotation in pencil and blue biro, bottom left hand corner.)
  • 'National Guards' (Handwritten annotation in black ink, right hand side of the design)
  • 'Leslie Hurry' (Handwritten signature, ink, bottom right hand corner.)
  • 'Andrea Chenier' (Handwritten annotation in ink, bottom left hand side of the design)
  • 'McPherson [illegible] lengthen bottom I Act Gold Braid off turn back into [illegible] [illegible] just cuffs to sketch to be fitted after dying' (Handwritten annotation in pencil on the rear of the design)
  • 'Mc GRIFFITHS STRIPE W/COAT AS SKETCHES put on w/ct throu c/b " " C/B seam [illegible] " " S/S " " all sleeve DYE TROUS.' (Handwritten annotation in biro on the rear of the design)
  • 'HUGHES Blue let out c/b the[?] all poss to TROUS.' (Handwritten annotation in biro on the rear of the design)
  • 'DRAPER DYE TROUS & W/COAT [illegible]' (Handwritten annotation in biro on the rear of the design.)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Caro Rathbone
Literary referenceAndrea Chenier
Summary
Design for stage costumes worn by the National Guard in a production of <i>Andrea Chenier</i>, created by Leslie Hurry, 1959. The performers for whom the designs were created included the tenors Neville Griffiths, Haydn Hughes, and Basses Charles Draper and Ian McPherson.

Andrea Chenier by Umberto Giordano & Luigi Illica translated by Tom Hammond was produced by Anthony Besch for Sadler's Wells Opera initially at Coventry Theatre on 11 September 1959, and toured before its official premiere Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London on 13 October 1959.

Andrea Chenier was first produced at La Scala, Milan in 1896 but is not frequently performed in Britain. It is based loosely on the life of the French poet, André Chénier (1762-1794), who was executed during the French Revolution. The opera was chosen to open Sadler’s Wells Theatre after the building of a new proscenium arch for the stage and improved acoustics.

A review published in The Times 14th October, 1959, noted that ‘the sets and dresses by Leslie Hurry had the authentic French Revolutionary appearance.’




Collection
Accession number
S.1878-2014

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Record createdAugust 14, 2014
Record URL
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