Subjects Depicted
Richard D’Oyly Carte employed Dudley Hardy to design posters for his theatre productions at the Savoy Theatre. This poster design was for the comic opera Rose of Persia, which featured a plot centred on dancing girls and thick with mistaken identities and disguises. It played at the Savoy in 1899 and was a great success, focussing more heavily on dance than other comic operas.
People
Dudley Hardy made his name originally as a painter and illustrator. His bold venture into poster design in the 1890s gave him scope for all sorts of unconventional ideas. Although he was influenced by designers of the French 'artistic' poster, such as Jules Cheret, he developed a characteristically English approach with his simplified style and integrated lettering. After his initial success with a poster nicknamed 'The Yellow Girl', advertising the To-Day magazine, many of his earliest posters were commissioned for theatrical productions by the well-known firm of publishers Waterlow & Sons.
Design & Designing
Poster magazine praised the clarity of outline and colour schemes in Hardy’s work and described him as a pioneer of the 'artistic' poster. Hardy gave his views on design in an interview with the same magazine in December 1899: 'both from the artistic and commercial point of view, [posters] should be as simple and striking as possibly; very little background, very little detail, a bold, striking line which will arrest the eye of the passer-by.'
Physical description
'The Rose Of Persia'. Colour lithograph poster advertising a production by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company of the comic opera by B Hook. The design features a dancing girl with red hair, dressed in white bloomers, dress, shoes and a blue belt, in a painterly style against a blue background with a white and green frame. Signed.
Place of Origin
London, England (made)
Date
1899 (made)
Artist/maker
Hardy, Dudley, born 1867 - died 1922 (artist)
Waterlow & Sons Ltd (lithographer)
Materials and Techniques
colour lithography
Marks and inscriptions
'THE ROSE OF PERSIA'
"D'OYLY CARTE'S / OPERA COMPANY"
'Dudley Hardy'
'BY BASIL HOOD AND ARTHUR SULLIVAN'
'Copyright Regd.'
'Waterlow & Sons Ltd. London Wall, London, E.C.'
Dimensions
Height: 74.3 cm, Width: 49.2 cm
Historical context note
The comic opera 'The Rose Of Persia' was written by B Hook, with music by A Sullivan. It was first produced at the Savoy Theatre, London, 29 November 1899.
Descriptive line
'The Rose Of Persia'. Colour lithograph poster advertising a production by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company of the comic opera by B Hook. Designed by Dudley Hardy. London, England. 1899.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
The Poster, Vol. 2, December 1899.
Haill, Catherine. Theatre Posters. London, HMSO, 1983.
Summary Catalogue of British Posters to 1988 in the Victoria & Albert Museum in the Department of Design, Prints & Drawing. Emmett Publishing, 1990. 129 p. ISBN: 1 869934 12 1
The full text of the entry is as follows:
'HARDY, Dudley (1867-1922)
[...]
The Rose Of Persia. Poster advertising a production by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company of the comic opera by B Hook, music by A Sullivan, first produced at the Savoy Theatre, London, 29 November 1899. S CL 74.3 49.2 cm
E.3304-1932 fiche 17/B8'
Labels and date
British Galleries:
THE ROSE OF PERSIA
1899
The vivacious dancing lady on this poster is reminiscent of French design. The illustrator and painter Dudley Hardy, a pioneer of the ‘artistic’ poster, was influenced by French designers such as Jules Cheret (1836–1932). The style here contrasts with the bold clarity of the poster to the right [Yeomen of the Guard E.3303-1932], also by Hardy.
Colour lithograph, inks on paper
Designed by Dudley Hardy (born in Sheffield, 1867, died in London, 1922); printed by Waterlow & Sons Ltd, London
Given by Norman B. Stone
Museum no. E.3304-1932 [12/2012]
Associated names
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
Materials
Paper; Ink
Techniques
Colour lithography
Subjects depicted
Costume; Theatre; Dancer
Categories
Prints; Advertising; Entertainment & Leisure; Posters
Collection code
PDP
