Mirror
late 19th century (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This mirror belonged to Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, the eminent late-Victorian actor-manager of Her Majesty's Theatre in London's West End.
From 1887, Tree was manager of the Haymarket Theatre. He restored the theatre's reputation to high prestige, performing in popular melodramas such as Trilbyand producing and starring in new drama including plays by Ibsen and Wilde. He furthermore mounted critically-acclaimed productions of Shakespeare including Hamletand The Merry Wives of Windsor. His reputation and profit from these productions meant that by 1897, he could help fund construction of Her Majesty's Theatre, which he subsequently managed. It was during his tenure here that he performed all three of the roles pictured on this mirror.
Painted by Tree as a make-up guide for future performances, the mirror features, clockwise from top, Falstaff from The Merry Wives of Windsor,Fagin from Oliver Twistand Svengali from Trilby. Tree was considered a versatile actor, taking on a number of roles, but criticism of his style focused on his external, superficial approach to character. His performances as tragic characters were mostly overshadowed by other contemporary actors, such as Irving, but in eccentric roles he excelled. The three characters pictured here - Svengali, an evil hypnotist; Fagin, a stereotyped leader of a band of robber children; and Falstaff, a fat, arrogant and cowardly knight - all played to Tree's strengths as an actor, being outlandish and exaggerated.
From 1887, Tree was manager of the Haymarket Theatre. He restored the theatre's reputation to high prestige, performing in popular melodramas such as Trilbyand producing and starring in new drama including plays by Ibsen and Wilde. He furthermore mounted critically-acclaimed productions of Shakespeare including Hamletand The Merry Wives of Windsor. His reputation and profit from these productions meant that by 1897, he could help fund construction of Her Majesty's Theatre, which he subsequently managed. It was during his tenure here that he performed all three of the roles pictured on this mirror.
Painted by Tree as a make-up guide for future performances, the mirror features, clockwise from top, Falstaff from The Merry Wives of Windsor,Fagin from Oliver Twistand Svengali from Trilby. Tree was considered a versatile actor, taking on a number of roles, but criticism of his style focused on his external, superficial approach to character. His performances as tragic characters were mostly overshadowed by other contemporary actors, such as Irving, but in eccentric roles he excelled. The three characters pictured here - Svengali, an evil hypnotist; Fagin, a stereotyped leader of a band of robber children; and Falstaff, a fat, arrogant and cowardly knight - all played to Tree's strengths as an actor, being outlandish and exaggerated.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Paint on mirror |
| Brief description | Make-up mirror from Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree's dressing room, painted by him with images of his make-up as Falstaff, Svengali and Fagin |
| Physical description | Mirror with wooden frame, painted by Herbert Beerbohm Tree with images of the faces of Falstaff, Fagin and Svengali. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree’s make-up
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree (1852–1917) was one of the most famous actor-managers of his era. He designed his own character make-ups for Falstaff, Fagin and Svengali and drew them onto this make-up mirror so he could copy them whenever he played the roles.
The photograph shows Tree in The Man Who Was. He played two characters in the play, in this instance an escaped Siberian prisoner. [68 words]
Mirror
1880–1900
Glass, greasepaint and wood
Given by Tony Sympson
Museum no. S.18-2008
Tree in The Man Who Was
1903
Play by Rudyard Kipling, 1890
His Majesty’s Theatre, London
Photograph
Museum no. 38041 701005811.1 |
| Credit line | Given by Tony Sympson |
| Object history | Given to the British Theatre Museum Association by Tony Sympson |
| Literary references |
|
| Summary | This mirror belonged to Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, the eminent late-Victorian actor-manager of Her Majesty's Theatre in London's West End. From 1887, Tree was manager of the Haymarket Theatre. He restored the theatre's reputation to high prestige, performing in popular melodramas such as Trilbyand producing and starring in new drama including plays by Ibsen and Wilde. He furthermore mounted critically-acclaimed productions of Shakespeare including Hamletand The Merry Wives of Windsor. His reputation and profit from these productions meant that by 1897, he could help fund construction of Her Majesty's Theatre, which he subsequently managed. It was during his tenure here that he performed all three of the roles pictured on this mirror. Painted by Tree as a make-up guide for future performances, the mirror features, clockwise from top, Falstaff from The Merry Wives of Windsor,Fagin from Oliver Twistand Svengali from Trilby. Tree was considered a versatile actor, taking on a number of roles, but criticism of his style focused on his external, superficial approach to character. His performances as tragic characters were mostly overshadowed by other contemporary actors, such as Irving, but in eccentric roles he excelled. The three characters pictured here - Svengali, an evil hypnotist; Fagin, a stereotyped leader of a band of robber children; and Falstaff, a fat, arrogant and cowardly knight - all played to Tree's strengths as an actor, being outlandish and exaggerated. |
| Other number | 1964/G/99 - BTMA accession number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.18-2008 |
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| Record created | February 27, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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