Not currently on display at the V&A

Drawing

1885 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is one of several theatrical drawings given by Sir William Ingram which were commissioned from contemporary artists to be printed in illustrated magazines. This pen and ink drawing by Pilotell illustrates several leading actors in the original production of Gillbert and Sullivan's comic opera The Mikado which opened at London's Savoy Theatre in March 1885. The fan-like shapes which act as frames for each vignette echo the Japanese theme of the opera, and the costumes worn by the characters are those designed by Wilhelm for the original production.

Pilotell was a French artist living in London who was probably a personal contact of Richard D'Oyly Carte. His artwork appears in various printed items relating to Gilbert and Sullivan operas produced by D'Oyly Carte, including an April 1878 programme printed during the original run of 'The Sorcerer when it was produced with a revival of Trial By Jury at London's Opera Comique, April 1878.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
pen and ink on drawing board
Brief description
Illustration of leading characters in the original production of The Mikado. Savoy Theatre 14 March 1885. Pen and ink by Pilotell (Georges Raoul Eugène Labadie 1844-1918). Given by Sir William Ingram.
Physical description
Illustration in pen and black ink of characters and groups of characters from the original production of The Mikado intended for reproduction in a magazine. Each character or group is drawn within the shape of a leaf or leaves of a fan, and a trellis work of stem and leaf p[attern connects the frames. The names of the actor and the character they are playing is written vertically in decorative upper case within small vertical frames, to appear more like Japanese script. The characters identified are (from top left) George Grossmith as Ko-Ko; Rutland Barrington as Pooh Bah, Jessie Bond as Petti-Sing, Sibyl Grey as Peep-Bo and Leonora Braham as Yum-Yum, Durward Lely as Nanki-Poo, Richard Temple as The Mikado and Rosina Brandram as Katisha.
Dimensions
  • Height: 43.8cm
  • Width: 31.0cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • KO KO MR GROSSMITH
  • POOH BAH MR BARRINGTON
  • THREE LITTLE MAIDS FROM SCHOOL MISS J BOND MISS S GREY MISS L BRAHAM
  • NANKI POO MR D. LELY
  • THE MIKADO MR R. TEMPLE
  • KATISHA MISS R. BRANDRAM
  • Transliteration
Credit line
Given by Sir William Ingram
Subject depicted
Literary referenceThe Mikado
Summary
This is one of several theatrical drawings given by Sir William Ingram which were commissioned from contemporary artists to be printed in illustrated magazines. This pen and ink drawing by Pilotell illustrates several leading actors in the original production of Gillbert and Sullivan's comic opera The Mikado which opened at London's Savoy Theatre in March 1885. The fan-like shapes which act as frames for each vignette echo the Japanese theme of the opera, and the costumes worn by the characters are those designed by Wilhelm for the original production.

Pilotell was a French artist living in London who was probably a personal contact of Richard D'Oyly Carte. His artwork appears in various printed items relating to Gilbert and Sullivan operas produced by D'Oyly Carte, including an April 1878 programme printed during the original run of 'The Sorcerer when it was produced with a revival of Trial By Jury at London's Opera Comique, April 1878.
Collection
Accession number
S.2-2009

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Record createdJanuary 5, 2009
Record URL
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