Costume Design
1881 (Painted, Drawn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Because of its 'ballet-length' skirt, this costume design was probably intended for a dancer in the spectacular pantomime Little Bo Peep, Little Boy Blue and the Little Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe which opened at the Theatre Royal Covent Garden on 26th December 1881. The pantomime featured a variety of elaborate scenes by leading scenic artists of the day, and costumes by Wilhelm, described by one contemporary reviewer as splendid, designed: 'with an equal feeling for beauty of form and colour'
Wilhelm (William Charles Pitcher RI, 1858-1925) was one of the most inventive and prolific late 19th century costume designers whose early passion for stage spectacle led to his employment designing pantomime costumes for Drury Lane Theatre. His attention to detail and ability to create visually stunning and decorative costumes were aspects of his work that appealed to producers and public alike, and led to his constant stream of work throughout his life. He was a well known illustrator of children's books as well as a costume designer, but it was his detailed and superbly decorative designs for the Empire Theatre ballet costumes from 1908 to 1915, led to an obituary writer noting: 'The name C. Wilhelm should be written in gold on the history of ballet'.
Wilhelm (William Charles Pitcher RI, 1858-1925) was one of the most inventive and prolific late 19th century costume designers whose early passion for stage spectacle led to his employment designing pantomime costumes for Drury Lane Theatre. His attention to detail and ability to create visually stunning and decorative costumes were aspects of his work that appealed to producers and public alike, and led to his constant stream of work throughout his life. He was a well known illustrator of children's books as well as a costume designer, but it was his detailed and superbly decorative designs for the Empire Theatre ballet costumes from 1908 to 1915, led to an obituary writer noting: 'The name C. Wilhelm should be written in gold on the history of ballet'.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour, gouache, pen & ink on card |
| Brief description | Costume design by Wilhelm for a peasant girl in Little Bo Peep, Little Boy Blue and the Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe, Theatre Royal Covent Garden, 1881. Watercolour, gouache, pen and ink. Given by Brian Peters. |
| Physical description | Costume design in watercolour and gouache on card for a peasant girl’s costume showing a girl standing with her left arm behind her body, her right arm bent behind her at waist height with her hand pointing forwards. Her head is turned to the left away from the viewer, and she wears a straw poke bonnet with a blue bow, a light blue laced bodice with darker blue puff sleeves decorated with white spots and edged with white ribbon finishing in bows, a darker blue skirt spotted with white, gathered up at the back revealing a ballet-length light blue pleated skirt below. She has a red necklace with a double row of beads or coral, and a white blouse of light fabric, possibly muslin, beneath her bodice. Signed and dated in red ink ‘WILHELM 81’; inscribed in red ink in the top left-hand corner ‘Covent Garden’ and in the top right-hand corner ‘Peasants’. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Credit line | Given by Brian Peters |
| Object history | This costume design by Wilhelm is one of three designs by Wilhelm given to the Theatre Collections by Brian Peters in 2004. The design was executed for a production of Little Bo Peep, Little Boy Blue and the Little Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe by William Youngue, with costumes desiged by Wilhelm, and sets by William Telbin, William Perkins, Bruce Smith and Charles Brew. Historical significance: Wilhelm (William Charles Pitcher RI, 1858-1925) was one of the most inventive and prolific late 19th century costume designers whose early passion for stage spectacle led to his employment designing pantomime costumes for Drury Lane Theatre. His attention to detail and ability to create visually stunning and decorative costumes were aspects of his work that appealed to producers and public alike, and led to his constant stream of work throughout his life. He was a well known illustrator of children's books as well as a costume designer, but it was his detailed and superbly decorative designs for the Empire Theatre ballet costumes from 1908 to 1915, led to an obituary writer noting: 'The name C. Wilhelm should be written in gold on the history of ballet'. |
| Literary reference | Little Bo Peep |
| Summary | Because of its 'ballet-length' skirt, this costume design was probably intended for a dancer in the spectacular pantomime Little Bo Peep, Little Boy Blue and the Little Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe which opened at the Theatre Royal Covent Garden on 26th December 1881. The pantomime featured a variety of elaborate scenes by leading scenic artists of the day, and costumes by Wilhelm, described by one contemporary reviewer as splendid, designed: 'with an equal feeling for beauty of form and colour' Wilhelm (William Charles Pitcher RI, 1858-1925) was one of the most inventive and prolific late 19th century costume designers whose early passion for stage spectacle led to his employment designing pantomime costumes for Drury Lane Theatre. His attention to detail and ability to create visually stunning and decorative costumes were aspects of his work that appealed to producers and public alike, and led to his constant stream of work throughout his life. He was a well known illustrator of children's books as well as a costume designer, but it was his detailed and superbly decorative designs for the Empire Theatre ballet costumes from 1908 to 1915, led to an obituary writer noting: 'The name C. Wilhelm should be written in gold on the history of ballet'. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.157-2007 |
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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | October 2, 2007 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
