Miss Nellie Farren
Photograph
ca. 1889 (photographed)
ca. 1889 (photographed)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Photographic portrait of the actress Nellie Farren (1848-1904) in the title role of Ruy Blas, unidentified photographer, ca. 1889.
Photography was a novel and exciting development in Victorian days. Most actors and actresses had studio photographs taken, in everyday dress or theatrical costume, for ‘cartes de visite’, and later ‘cabinet cards’. Both were albumen prints made from glass negatives, attached to stiff card backing printed with the photographer’s name.
‘Cartes de visite’, the size of formal visiting cards, were patented in 1854 and produced in their millions during the 1860s when it became fashionable to collect them. Their subjects included scenic views, tourist attractions and works of art, as well as portraits. They were superseded in the late 1870s by the larger and sturdier ‘cabinet cards’ whose popularity waned in turn during the 1890s in favour of postcards and studio portraits.
This photograph comes from a large collection of ‘cartes de visite’ and ‘cabinet cards’ removed from their backings and mounted in albums by Guy Tristram Little (d.1953) who bequeathed them to the V&A. A collector of greetings cards, games and photographs, Guy Little was a partner in the legal firm Messrs Milles Jennings White & Foster, and the solicitor and executor of Mrs. Gabrielle Enthoven, whose theatrical collection formed the basis of the Theatre Collections at the V&A.
Photography was a novel and exciting development in Victorian days. Most actors and actresses had studio photographs taken, in everyday dress or theatrical costume, for ‘cartes de visite’, and later ‘cabinet cards’. Both were albumen prints made from glass negatives, attached to stiff card backing printed with the photographer’s name.
‘Cartes de visite’, the size of formal visiting cards, were patented in 1854 and produced in their millions during the 1860s when it became fashionable to collect them. Their subjects included scenic views, tourist attractions and works of art, as well as portraits. They were superseded in the late 1870s by the larger and sturdier ‘cabinet cards’ whose popularity waned in turn during the 1890s in favour of postcards and studio portraits.
This photograph comes from a large collection of ‘cartes de visite’ and ‘cabinet cards’ removed from their backings and mounted in albums by Guy Tristram Little (d.1953) who bequeathed them to the V&A. A collector of greetings cards, games and photographs, Guy Little was a partner in the legal firm Messrs Milles Jennings White & Foster, and the solicitor and executor of Mrs. Gabrielle Enthoven, whose theatrical collection formed the basis of the Theatre Collections at the V&A.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Miss Nellie Farren (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Photographic print on paper |
Brief description | Photographic portrait of the actress Nellie Farren (1848-1904) in the title role of Ruy Blas, unidentified photographer, ca. 1889 |
Physical description | Photographic portrait of the actress Nellie Farren (1848-1904) in the title role of Ruy Blas. It features a full length portrait of Farren whose gaze is directed downwards, towards her feet. She is wearing a knee length white dress with long sleeves and a flounced skirt, and a hat with a wide brim and tall crown. Her left and right hands are holding up her skirt and she is leaning slightly forwards, her right foot crossed in front of her left leg. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions |
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Credit line | Bequeathed by Guy Little |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | Photographic portrait of the actress Nellie Farren (1848-1904) in the title role of Ruy Blas, unidentified photographer, ca. 1889. Photography was a novel and exciting development in Victorian days. Most actors and actresses had studio photographs taken, in everyday dress or theatrical costume, for ‘cartes de visite’, and later ‘cabinet cards’. Both were albumen prints made from glass negatives, attached to stiff card backing printed with the photographer’s name. ‘Cartes de visite’, the size of formal visiting cards, were patented in 1854 and produced in their millions during the 1860s when it became fashionable to collect them. Their subjects included scenic views, tourist attractions and works of art, as well as portraits. They were superseded in the late 1870s by the larger and sturdier ‘cabinet cards’ whose popularity waned in turn during the 1890s in favour of postcards and studio portraits. This photograph comes from a large collection of ‘cartes de visite’ and ‘cabinet cards’ removed from their backings and mounted in albums by Guy Tristram Little (d.1953) who bequeathed them to the V&A. A collector of greetings cards, games and photographs, Guy Little was a partner in the legal firm Messrs Milles Jennings White & Foster, and the solicitor and executor of Mrs. Gabrielle Enthoven, whose theatrical collection formed the basis of the Theatre Collections at the V&A. |
Other number | GLC.III.iii.6.4 - Guy Little album identification numbering |
Collection | |
Accession number | S.124-2016 |
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Record created | April 22, 2016 |
Record URL |
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