Not currently on display at the V&A

Drawing of Paul Cinquevalli

Cartoon
ca. 1905 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This caricature is one of several drawings of theatrical personalities and variety performers, including Dan Leno, George Robey and Albert Chevalier, made by L.J. Binns in the early 20th century. As well as theatrical subjects, Binns drew cartoons of political figures, and had associations with two predominant caricaturists of this period, Sir Francis Carruthers Gould and Harry Furniss.

The subject of this caricature, Paul Cinquevalli (1859-1918), was born in Poland, ran away from home aged 14 and joined an Italian acrobatic troupe led by Giuseppe Chiese-Cinquevalli, from whom he took his stage name. He trained on high wire and trapeze but took up juggling when recovering from a fall. His first performance in London in 1885 was a great success, and he went on to become the most celebrated juggler on the British Music Hall and Variety stage in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was considered one of the first gentleman jugglers, because he performed with everyday objects such as bottles, plates, glasses and umbrellas.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleDrawing of Paul Cinquevalli (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink and watercolour on paper
Brief description
Paul Cinquevalli (1859-1918) juggling a cannon ball, a sugar lump and a lighted cigarette. Pen, ink and watercolour by L.J. Binns.
Physical description
Pen and ink and watercolour cartoon showing Paul Cinquevalli standing, legs apart, wearing black tights and a gold fringed leotard, or top and bottom, and yellow T-bar strap shoes, concentrating on juggling a large black canon ball, a lump of sugar and a lighted cigarette. He has a handlebar moustache and his eyes are fixed on the objects in the air in front of him.
Dimensions
  • Height: 19.2cm
  • Width: 14.0cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • L.J. Binns (Signed in ink, lower right, recto.)
  • Paul Cinquevalli (In pencil verso)
Credit line
Gabrielle Enthoven Collection
Object history
Filed previously with the New Lyceum theatre prgrammes for 1905, indicating that Cinquevalli performed at the New Lyceum after it became a Variety Theatre in January 1905.
Subjects depicted
Association
Summary
This caricature is one of several drawings of theatrical personalities and variety performers, including Dan Leno, George Robey and Albert Chevalier, made by L.J. Binns in the early 20th century. As well as theatrical subjects, Binns drew cartoons of political figures, and had associations with two predominant caricaturists of this period, Sir Francis Carruthers Gould and Harry Furniss.

The subject of this caricature, Paul Cinquevalli (1859-1918), was born in Poland, ran away from home aged 14 and joined an Italian acrobatic troupe led by Giuseppe Chiese-Cinquevalli, from whom he took his stage name. He trained on high wire and trapeze but took up juggling when recovering from a fall. His first performance in London in 1885 was a great success, and he went on to become the most celebrated juggler on the British Music Hall and Variety stage in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was considered one of the first gentleman jugglers, because he performed with everyday objects such as bottles, plates, glasses and umbrellas.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
S.72-2008

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Record createdMarch 10, 2008
Record URL
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