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Ira Aldridge as Othello in 'Othello' by William Shakespeare
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Ira Aldridge as Othello in 'Othello' by William Shakespeare
- Object:
Painting
- Date:
ca. 1848 (painting (image-making))
- Artist/Maker:
Unknown (production)
- Materials and Techniques:
Oil on canvas
- Credit Line:
Given by Prof. Herbert Marshall
- Museum number:
S.1129-1986
- Gallery location:
Theatre & Performance, room 106b, case 6, shelf A
This painting depicts Ira Aldridge in his most famous role, Othello. The painter is unknown, most likely of the British School, but the painting itself is unusual in depicting Othello on the stage, as opposed to treating it in a purely literary fashion.
Aldridge made his London debut in this role at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in 1833. Barely two weeks after the death of Kean, who had been playing Othello on the very same stage, Aldridge was forced to circulate handbills defending his adoption of Kean's part. There were some papers which protested against a black actor's being permitted to appear at Covent Garden, and the tone of their reviews the next day is somewhat sullen, partially due to the perceived appropriation of Kean's role. Unable to criticise a good performance outright, the Morning Post grudgingly concedes that 'it was doubtless sufficiently good to be considered very curious'. This was balanced by the many other publications which declared Aldridge a 'singularly gifted actor'(the Standard), with 'beauties throughout his performance' (the Globe), who 'evinced a great deal of feeling and nature in his performance' (the Spectator).
