Backcloth
c.1870 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is one of several 19th century scenic cloths for travelling marionette shows performed by the Clowes and Tiller companies, and possibly the only surviving group of 19th century scenic cloths of their type. They are rare survivals which offer first-hand evidence about marionette shows of their time, and about 19th century scene painting in general. They were given to the museum by George Speaight after he had looked after them in his attic for almost fifty years. He and Gerald Morice had bought them in the late 1940s from Harriet Clowes who remembered performing with them when she was a girl. At the same time they bought a quantity of marionettes which are now also in the museum's collection.
Scene-painters were much in demand for marionette shows, as they were for the theatre generally, and when companies didn't have the expertise themselves, they advertised for scene- painters. Each play had several scenes, and to save on the expense of canvas, many of these cloths are painted on both sides, with different scenes. Some even have eyelets which may show their origins as sails.
Scene-painters were much in demand for marionette shows, as they were for the theatre generally, and when companies didn't have the expertise themselves, they advertised for scene- painters. Each play had several scenes, and to save on the expense of canvas, many of these cloths are painted on both sides, with different scenes. Some even have eyelets which may show their origins as sails.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | painted canvas |
| Brief description | Backcloth representing a formal garden scene with a sculpture and pillared grotto. Painted canvas by J. Tiller of the Tiller marionette company family, c.1870. Gift of George Speaight. |
| Physical description | Backcloth attached to a split square wooden batten at the top and a split circular wooden batten at the bottom. There are four pieces of rope attached to the top batten forming loops. The relatively fine weave canvas cloth is painted in distemper with a formal garden scene with a pillared grotto and classical sculpture. The reverse is painted with a view of the interior of a castle with archways and a view through one opf them to the battlements and a turrel beyond.[S.199:1-2007]. There is staining from water damage throughout, especially visible at right edge and lower left corner on the castle side. On the castle interior side there are white spots of water damage/mildew at the lower edge. On the garden side there is a band of abrasion stage right. Signed lower right corner verso in yellow paint:‘J Tiller Long Sutton’ |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | J Tiller Long Sutton (Signed lower right corner on garden scene side, in yellow paint.) |
| Credit line | Given by George Speaight. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is one of several 19th century scenic cloths for travelling marionette shows performed by the Clowes and Tiller companies, and possibly the only surviving group of 19th century scenic cloths of their type. They are rare survivals which offer first-hand evidence about marionette shows of their time, and about 19th century scene painting in general. They were given to the museum by George Speaight after he had looked after them in his attic for almost fifty years. He and Gerald Morice had bought them in the late 1940s from Harriet Clowes who remembered performing with them when she was a girl. At the same time they bought a quantity of marionettes which are now also in the museum's collection. Scene-painters were much in demand for marionette shows, as they were for the theatre generally, and when companies didn't have the expertise themselves, they advertised for scene- painters. Each play had several scenes, and to save on the expense of canvas, many of these cloths are painted on both sides, with different scenes. Some even have eyelets which may show their origins as sails. |
| Associated object | S.199:1-2007 (Object) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.199:2-2007 |
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| Record created | September 9, 2008 |
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