Sketchbook
1875 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Sketchbook containing studies of costume from works by Vecellio, Jost Amman and others and designs for stage settings for a production of Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice'. There are also studies of costume etc. copied from manuscripts in the British Museum and from the Bayeaux Tapestry for Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'. On p.59 is a portrait of William Burgess dated 25 June 1875. 76 pages (others missing) of metallic surfaced paper, thread-stitched in paper boards.
Object details
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| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and metal-point with some water-colour on paper |
| Brief description | Sketchbook containing studies of costume from works by Vecellio, Jost Amman and others, and designs for stage settings for Mrs. Bancroft's production of Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice', along with studies of costume etc. copied from manuscripts in the British Museum and from the Bayeaux Tapestry for Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'. On page 59 is a portrait of William Burges dated 25 June 1875. 76 pages (others missing) of metallic surfaced paper, thread-stitched in paper boards. Pen and ink, metal-point and some water-colour drawings by Edward William Godwin, 1875. |
| Physical description | Sketchbook containing studies of costume from works by Vecellio, Jost Amman and others and designs for stage settings for a production of Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice'. There are also studies of costume etc. copied from manuscripts in the British Museum and from the Bayeaux Tapestry for Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'. On p.59 is a portrait of William Burgess dated 25 June 1875. 76 pages (others missing) of metallic surfaced paper, thread-stitched in paper boards. |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mr Edward Godwin, son of the artist |
| Object history | Most of the costume studies in this sketchbook were reproduced as illustrations to an article by Godwin on ‘The Costume of The Merchant of Venice’ on p.74 of Vol.13 of The British Architect, January to June 1880, where it is stated that ‘the illustrations given this week are taken from pencil sketches in my note-books, made chiefly in 1874-5, added to an tested a few weeks since’. Other studies for the costume etc. of this play are in the sketchbook E.250-1963. The article suggests that the costumes would be equally suitable for Othello and they may have been used in Mrs. Bateman’s production of that play, first performed at the New Sadler’s Wells Theatre, 20 September 1880. One costume on p.17 was reproduced with others for Othello on a plate following p.176 of Vol.14 of The British Architect, July to December 1880. |
| Historical context | Mrs. Bancroft’s production of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice was first performed at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London, 17 April 1875, with Ellen Terry as Portia. |
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| Literary references |
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| Bibliographic reference | Victoria and Albert Museum Department of Prints and Drawings and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1963 . London: HMSO, 1964. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.236-1963 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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