Yeomen of the Guard
Poster
1890s (made)
1890s (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
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 Gilbert and Sullivan opera Yoemen of the Guard, playing at the Savoy in 1897. Poster magazine of 1899, while praising the vibrant colour scheme, suggested that the executioner was a little too macabre for a comic opera.
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.'
Richard D’Oyly Carte employed Dudley Hardy to design posters for his theatre productions at the Savoy Theatre. This poster design was for the Gilbert and Sullivan opera Yoemen of the Guard, playing at the Savoy in 1897. Poster magazine of 1899, while praising the vibrant colour scheme, suggested that the executioner was a little too macabre for a comic opera.
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.'
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Yeomen of the Guard (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | colour lithography |
| Brief description | 'The Yeomen Of The Guard'. Colour lithograph poster advertising a production of the comic opera by W. S. Gilbert and A. Sullivan by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. Designed by Dudley Hardy. London, England. 1890s. |
| Physical description | 'The Yeomen Of The Guard'. Colour lithograph poster advertising a production of the comic opera by W. S. Gilbert and A. Sullivan by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. The design shows an executioner dressed in black, holding an axe which he rests on a block. Behind are blocks of colour, the lower half in green representing grass and a crenellated castle wall, and above a large red sun descending behind the wall against a yellow sky. Signed 'Dudley Hardy'. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | British Galleries:
YEOMEN OF THE GUARD
1897
Dudley Hardy was a pioneer of poster design. He believed that a poster should be simple, with little background or detail, and a ‘bold, striking line’ to catch the eye. Poster magazine praised the vibrant colour scheme of this poster but suggested that the executioner was a little too grim for a comic opera.
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.3303-1932(12/2012) |
| Credit line | Given by Norman B. Stone |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Association | |
| Summary | 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 Gilbert and Sullivan opera Yoemen of the Guard, playing at the Savoy in 1897. Poster magazine of 1899, while praising the vibrant colour scheme, suggested that the executioner was a little too macabre for a comic opera. 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.' |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other number | 17/B6 - V&A microfiche |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.3303-1932 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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