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Not currently on display at the V&A

H Beard Print Collection

Print
15th December 1836 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This print depicts the juvenile performer Master C. R. Saker in the title role of Henry Fielding's satirical tragedy Tom Thumb, originally performed at London's Haymarket Theatre on 24th April 1730 with Tom Thumb played by a Miss Jones. Its plot concerned Tom Thumb, a man of lowly status and stature who was granted the hand of marriage of a princess by King Arthur, much to the dismay of his wife Queen Dollalolla. The satire drew parallels between King Arthur and King George, and Queen Dollalolla and Queen Caroline, especially the commonly held belief that Queen Caroline controlled the decisions of King George.

Juvenile performers were extremely popular on the stage in the early 19th century after the great success of the most celebrated juvelile of them all, William Henry West Betty, known as Master Betty



Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleH Beard Print Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
hand coloured etching
Brief description
Colour full length image of Master C. R. Saker as Tom Thumb. Published in London by J. Fairburn on 15th December 1836, Harry Beard Collection.
Physical description
Etched hand coloured full length image of Master C. R. Saker as Tom Thumb.
Dimensions
  • Print size height: 25cm
  • Print size width: 19cm
Subject depicted
Literary referenceTom Thumb
Summary
This print depicts the juvenile performer Master C. R. Saker in the title role of Henry Fielding's satirical tragedy Tom Thumb, originally performed at London's Haymarket Theatre on 24th April 1730 with Tom Thumb played by a Miss Jones. Its plot concerned Tom Thumb, a man of lowly status and stature who was granted the hand of marriage of a princess by King Arthur, much to the dismay of his wife Queen Dollalolla. The satire drew parallels between King Arthur and King George, and Queen Dollalolla and Queen Caroline, especially the commonly held belief that Queen Caroline controlled the decisions of King George.

Juvenile performers were extremely popular on the stage in the early 19th century after the great success of the most celebrated juvelile of them all, William Henry West Betty, known as Master Betty

Other number
F.59-29 - H Beard collection numbering
Collection
Accession number
S.4197-2009

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Record createdFebruary 16, 2009
Record URL
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