Print Collection
Print
ca. 1842 (printed)
ca. 1842 (printed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This print probably depicts the curtain-call of a Victorian entertainment about the life of the great Regency clown Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837). The presence of the two ladies on stage, one at the piano and the other with her words or music, indicate that this took place in a small theatre such as London's Gallery of Illustration. It could not have been there however if the number 42 in the print refers to 1842 since the Gallery of Illustration in Regent Street did not open until 1849.
Joseph Grimaldi established himself after 1806 as the greatest pantomime clown of all time, ousting Harlequin as the central figure of pantomime. He was a singer, accomplished dancer, amazing acrobat and serious pantomimist. He had true comic genius and appeared on stage in a variety of guises, making speedy transformations. This print shows three characters dressed in Grimaldi's typical flounced red and white clown suit, and also features four other characters with his characteristic red and white make-up - the type of characters that Grimaldi played with great comical success.
Joseph Grimaldi established himself after 1806 as the greatest pantomime clown of all time, ousting Harlequin as the central figure of pantomime. He was a singer, accomplished dancer, amazing acrobat and serious pantomimist. He had true comic genius and appeared on stage in a variety of guises, making speedy transformations. This print shows three characters dressed in Grimaldi's typical flounced red and white clown suit, and also features four other characters with his characteristic red and white make-up - the type of characters that Grimaldi played with great comical success.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Print Collection (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Colour lithograph on paper |
| Brief description | Characters on stage in the entertainment Grimaldi, possibly at the Royal Gallery of Illustration. Colour lithograph, 1842, artist unknown. |
| Physical description | Print showing nine characters on a stage, with the name GRIMALDI inscribed in decorative lettering above the stage. Three of the characters are dressed as Grimaldi in red and white clown suits with white-face make-up, but four other characters (an old lady, a man in a dressing-gown and night-cap, a soldier and a man with checked trousers carrying an umbrella) all have the distinctive white-face clown make-up. On either side of the stage there is a lady performer, the narrator or singer stage right, and the pianist at her piano stage left. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Gabrielle Enthoven Collection |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This print probably depicts the curtain-call of a Victorian entertainment about the life of the great Regency clown Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837). The presence of the two ladies on stage, one at the piano and the other with her words or music, indicate that this took place in a small theatre such as London's Gallery of Illustration. It could not have been there however if the number 42 in the print refers to 1842 since the Gallery of Illustration in Regent Street did not open until 1849. Joseph Grimaldi established himself after 1806 as the greatest pantomime clown of all time, ousting Harlequin as the central figure of pantomime. He was a singer, accomplished dancer, amazing acrobat and serious pantomimist. He had true comic genius and appeared on stage in a variety of guises, making speedy transformations. This print shows three characters dressed in Grimaldi's typical flounced red and white clown suit, and also features four other characters with his characteristic red and white make-up - the type of characters that Grimaldi played with great comical success. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.210-2008 |
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| Record created | July 28, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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