Costume Design
1881 (Painted, Drawn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Given the motif of bells which feature on this jester's costume, this was probably designed for Dick Whittington, for which Wilhelm designed costumes at Edinburgh in 1881, although he designed costumes for at least three pantomimes in 1881 including Little Bo Peep at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, and Harlequin Boy Blueat the Theatre Royal Manchester.
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, and his detailed and superbly decorative designs for 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, and his detailed and superbly decorative designs for 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
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour, gouache, pen & ink on card |
| Brief description | Costume design by Wilhelm for a jester, possibly in Dick Whittington, Edinburgh, 1881. Watercolour, gouache, pen and ink. Given by Brian Peters. |
| Physical description | Costume design in watercolour and gouache on blue card for a jester wearing a parti-coloured red and white tunic with one red and one white sleeve ending above the wrists with decorative jagged edges, each point finished with a bell, the hem of the tunic also finished with bells attached to the fringing. Bells are also attached to a decorative black panel on the chest. He wears parti-coloured red and white tights and a red and white hat fringed with bells. Signed and dated 1881. Watercolour, gouache, pen & ink on paper. Signed and dated in faded red ink ‘WILHELM 81. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Brian Peters |
| Object history | This costume design by Wilhelm is part of a collection of 3 designs by Wilhelm given to the Theatre Collections by Brian Peters. The design was executed for a production in 1881 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, and his detailed and superbly decorative designs for 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'. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Given the motif of bells which feature on this jester's costume, this was probably designed for Dick Whittington, for which Wilhelm designed costumes at Edinburgh in 1881, although he designed costumes for at least three pantomimes in 1881 including Little Bo Peep at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, and Harlequin Boy Blueat the Theatre Royal Manchester. 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, and his detailed and superbly decorative designs for 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.158-2007 |
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| Record created | October 5, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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