Ira Aldridge as Mungo in The Padlock by Isaac Bickerstaffe
Painting
ca. 1833 (painted)
ca. 1833 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Actor Ira Aldridge (1807-1867) was born Frederick William Aldridge in New York. In 1824 he came to London and made his career in Europe. He is shown here as Mungo in the popular farce The Padlock, written by Isaac Bickerstaffe with music by Charles Dibden. The play had become a comic staple on the English stage since its original production at Drury Lane Theatre in 1768. Aldridge got great pathos out of the role of Mungo, the abused, harassed servant, as well as humour in the scenes with his master, the rich West Indian planter Don Diego.
Aldridge may have played Mungo for the first time in March 1826 at Devizes in Wiltshire while on tour. It became one of his favourite roles, in which he could make audiences both laugh and think, since Mungo is not just a comic insubordinate servant but also an exploited lackey, aware of the indignities to which he is subjected. During his career Aldridge also regularly sang songs from the play, and played the role in a double bill with Othello,displaying the wide range of his acting abilities.
Aldridge may have played Mungo for the first time in March 1826 at Devizes in Wiltshire while on tour. It became one of his favourite roles, in which he could make audiences both laugh and think, since Mungo is not just a comic insubordinate servant but also an exploited lackey, aware of the indignities to which he is subjected. During his career Aldridge also regularly sang songs from the play, and played the role in a double bill with Othello,displaying the wide range of his acting abilities.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Title | Ira Aldridge as Mungo in <i>The Padlock</i> by Isaac Bickerstaffe (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Oil on canvas |
| Brief description | Portrait entitled "Ira Aldridge as Mungo in The Padlock by Isaac Bickerstaffe". Oil on canvas, attributed to Thomas Charles Wageman, ca. 1833 |
| Physical description | Oil portrait of Ira Aldridge as Mungo. Full length black male figure standing in an interior. He wears a white jacket and matching knee breeches with a striped shirt, beige stockings and brown shoes. Behind him is a window with a view of the countryside. Under the window is a table covered by a green cloth, on which are books, papers and an inkwell with a quill pen. To the right of the table is a chair with a guitar on the seat, propped against the chair-back. There is a hat on the floor behind Aldridge's right foot. Framed. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by Professor Herbert Marshall |
| Object history | Given to the V&A by Professor Herbert Marshall, the author, with Mildred Stock, of the biography of Ira Aldridge, published by Rockcliff in 1958. Professor Marshall was given the painting by Aldridge's daughter, Amanda. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Actor Ira Aldridge (1807-1867) was born Frederick William Aldridge in New York. In 1824 he came to London and made his career in Europe. He is shown here as Mungo in the popular farce The Padlock, written by Isaac Bickerstaffe with music by Charles Dibden. The play had become a comic staple on the English stage since its original production at Drury Lane Theatre in 1768. Aldridge got great pathos out of the role of Mungo, the abused, harassed servant, as well as humour in the scenes with his master, the rich West Indian planter Don Diego. Aldridge may have played Mungo for the first time in March 1826 at Devizes in Wiltshire while on tour. It became one of his favourite roles, in which he could make audiences both laugh and think, since Mungo is not just a comic insubordinate servant but also an exploited lackey, aware of the indignities to which he is subjected. During his career Aldridge also regularly sang songs from the play, and played the role in a double bill with Othello,displaying the wide range of his acting abilities. |
| Associated object | S.3577-2009 (Depiction) |
| Bibliographic reference | Ashton, Geoffrey. Catalogue of Paintings at the Theatre Museum, London. ed. James Fowler, London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1992. 224p. ill. ISBN 1851771026 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.1130-1986 |
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| Record created | October 28, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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