Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
Photograph
ca.1865 (photographed)
ca.1865 (photographed)
Place of origin |
German photograph of Donato, a mid-nineteenth-century Spanish dancer, whose international fame grew after his right leg had been amputated. Accounts give different causes for the amputation; injury during a campaign in Morocco or being gored in the thigh when he took part in a bull fight. He danced at Covent Garden to great acclaim during the Alfred Mellon concerts in the winter 1864-65. His act lasted for about ten minutes finishing with a ‘series of rapid evolutions’ accompanying himself with castanets.
Photography was a novel and exciting development in Victorian days. Most actors and actresses had studio photographs taken, in everyday dress or theatrical costume, for ‘cartes de visite’, and later ‘cabinet cards’. Both were albumen prints made from glass negatives, attached to stiff card backing printed with the photographer’s name.
‘Cartes de visite’, the size of formal visiting cards, were patented in 1854 and produced in their millions during the 1860s when it became fashionable to collect them. Their subjects included scenic views, tourist attractions and works of art, as well as portraits. They were superseded in the late 1870s by the larger and sturdier ‘cabinet cards’ whose popularity waned in turn during the 1890s in favour of postcards and studio portraits.
This photograph comes from a large collection of ‘cartes de visite’ and ‘cabinet cards’ removed from their backings and mounted in albums by Guy Tristram Little (d.1953) who bequeathed them to the V&A. A collector of greetings cards, games and photographs, Guy Little was a partner in the legal firm Messrs Milles Jennings White & Foster, and the solicitor and executor of Mrs. Gabrielle Enthoven, whose theatrical collection formed the basis of the Theatre Collections at the V&A.
Photography was a novel and exciting development in Victorian days. Most actors and actresses had studio photographs taken, in everyday dress or theatrical costume, for ‘cartes de visite’, and later ‘cabinet cards’. Both were albumen prints made from glass negatives, attached to stiff card backing printed with the photographer’s name.
‘Cartes de visite’, the size of formal visiting cards, were patented in 1854 and produced in their millions during the 1860s when it became fashionable to collect them. Their subjects included scenic views, tourist attractions and works of art, as well as portraits. They were superseded in the late 1870s by the larger and sturdier ‘cabinet cards’ whose popularity waned in turn during the 1890s in favour of postcards and studio portraits.
This photograph comes from a large collection of ‘cartes de visite’ and ‘cabinet cards’ removed from their backings and mounted in albums by Guy Tristram Little (d.1953) who bequeathed them to the V&A. A collector of greetings cards, games and photographs, Guy Little was a partner in the legal firm Messrs Milles Jennings White & Foster, and the solicitor and executor of Mrs. Gabrielle Enthoven, whose theatrical collection formed the basis of the Theatre Collections at the V&A.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Guy Little Theatrical Photograph (named collection) |
Materials and techniques | Sepia photograph on paper |
Brief description | Sepia photograph by Ludwig Haase of the dancer Donato, ca.1865, Guy Little Collection |
Physical description | Sepia photograph of the dancer Donato leaning against wainscott with his head turned to the left. He wears an elaborately tassled jacket, breeches and a boot. On the right hangs a draped curtain. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | 'Donato / The one legged dancer / appeared at / Alfred Mellon's / Concerts / Covent Garden 1865 / Haase / Berlin' (Written on the back in pencil.) |
Credit line | Bequeathed by Guy Little |
Object history | This is one of the outstanding collection of 19th century photographs owned by Guy Little presented to the museum in the early 20th century. |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | German photograph of Donato, a mid-nineteenth-century Spanish dancer, whose international fame grew after his right leg had been amputated. Accounts give different causes for the amputation; injury during a campaign in Morocco or being gored in the thigh when he took part in a bull fight. He danced at Covent Garden to great acclaim during the Alfred Mellon concerts in the winter 1864-65. His act lasted for about ten minutes finishing with a ‘series of rapid evolutions’ accompanying himself with castanets. Photography was a novel and exciting development in Victorian days. Most actors and actresses had studio photographs taken, in everyday dress or theatrical costume, for ‘cartes de visite’, and later ‘cabinet cards’. Both were albumen prints made from glass negatives, attached to stiff card backing printed with the photographer’s name. ‘Cartes de visite’, the size of formal visiting cards, were patented in 1854 and produced in their millions during the 1860s when it became fashionable to collect them. Their subjects included scenic views, tourist attractions and works of art, as well as portraits. They were superseded in the late 1870s by the larger and sturdier ‘cabinet cards’ whose popularity waned in turn during the 1890s in favour of postcards and studio portraits. This photograph comes from a large collection of ‘cartes de visite’ and ‘cabinet cards’ removed from their backings and mounted in albums by Guy Tristram Little (d.1953) who bequeathed them to the V&A. A collector of greetings cards, games and photographs, Guy Little was a partner in the legal firm Messrs Milles Jennings White & Foster, and the solicitor and executor of Mrs. Gabrielle Enthoven, whose theatrical collection formed the basis of the Theatre Collections at the V&A. |
Other number | GLC VIII.x.6.4 - Guy Little album identification numbering |
Collection | |
Accession number | S.140:509-2007 |
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Record created | March 31, 2009 |
Record URL |
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