Not currently on display at the V&A

Caricature

14 September 1904 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This caricature is of the singer Mark Sheridan when he was performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 12 September 1904. He was billed as ‘London’s Favourite Comedy Vocalist’. It is one of the many superb caricatures of Edwardian music hall performers that were drawn by the artist George Cooke and compiled in a series of albums.

Born Fred Shaw in County Durham in 1867, Sheridan first appeared in northern music halls with a partner as ‘The Sheridans’. In 1892 he toured in Australia as a solo turn. By 1900 he was well known in London music halls as a singer of chorus songs. These included ‘I Do Like To Be Beside the Seaside’ and ‘Who Were You With Last Night?’, which he conducted from the stage with his umbrella. His characteristic costume consisted of a tight frock-coat, a stove-pipe hat, bell-bottomed trousers and the ubiquitous umbrella. He appeared in pantomime, and during the First World War toured music halls with his own burlesque company. He committed suicide in 1918, after suffering from depression.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink and wash on paper
Brief description
Caricature of the music hall comic singer Mark Sheridan (Fred Shaw 1867-1918), from an album of caricatures drawn by George Cooke. Dated 14 September 1904.
Physical description
Pen, ink and wash caricature on pink paper of Mark Sheridan, full-length, wearing a black stove-pipe hat, beige coat, red tie and flared black trousers. He is leaning on a black umbrella.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25cm (approximately)
  • Width: 18cm (approximately)
Marks and inscriptions
Yours truly Mark Sheridan 14/9/04 (Signature; Hand written; Pen and ink)
Object history
This caricature is of the music hall comedian Mark Sheridan (1867-1918). Born Fred Shaw in Hendon, County Durham, he first appeared in northern music halls with a partner as 'The Sheridans', and in 1892 toured in Australia as a solo turn. By 1900 he was well known in London music halls as a singer of chorus songs and music hall classics including 'I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside', and 'Who Were You With Last Night'. He conducted these from the stage with his umbrella, which was part of his trademark costume of tight frock-coat, high top hat and bell-bottomed trousers. During the First World War he toured the music halls with his own burlesque company, which included his wife, son and daughter. He committed suicide in 1918, suffering from acute depression.The caricature comes from the first of several albums compiled by the graphic artist George Cooke, featuring performers working in music hall in the early 20th century. The album is dated 1903-4-5.
Summary
This caricature is of the singer Mark Sheridan when he was performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 12 September 1904. He was billed as ‘London’s Favourite Comedy Vocalist’. It is one of the many superb caricatures of Edwardian music hall performers that were drawn by the artist George Cooke and compiled in a series of albums.

Born Fred Shaw in County Durham in 1867, Sheridan first appeared in northern music halls with a partner as ‘The Sheridans’. In 1892 he toured in Australia as a solo turn. By 1900 he was well known in London music halls as a singer of chorus songs. These included ‘I Do Like To Be Beside the Seaside’ and ‘Who Were You With Last Night?’, which he conducted from the stage with his umbrella. His characteristic costume consisted of a tight frock-coat, a stove-pipe hat, bell-bottomed trousers and the ubiquitous umbrella. He appeared in pantomime, and during the First World War toured music halls with his own burlesque company. He committed suicide in 1918, after suffering from depression.
Collection
Accession number
S.392:15-2002

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Record createdNovember 3, 2003
Record URL
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