Herbert Beerbohm Tree as Macbeth in Macbethby William Shakespeare
Painting
1914 (painted)
1914 (painted)
| Artist/Maker |
Herbert Beerbohm Tree (1853-1917) was London's leading actor-manager in the Edwardian era. He built His Majesty's Theatre in London's Haymarket which opened in 1897, and his spectacular productions there became famous for their detailed and realistic settings. Tree himself was celebrated for his ability to transform his features for every different role.
Tree's Macbeth opened on 5 September 1911 at His Majesty's Theatre, with Violet Vanbrugh as Lady Macbeth. The production drew some impressive reviews both for its staging and its leading actor. The Observer 'saw the latest Macbeth subtly indicate each symptom of the growing neurotic disease' and admired 'the breadth of tone and touch with which Sir Herbert, discarding all tricks of speech and mannerisms of pose, rose in voice and bearing to the height of a lofty tragic creation'.
The portrait was painted by Charles Buchel (1872-1950) who had a working relationship with Tree at Her Majesty's Theatre for 16 years. Tree commissioned Buchel to provide illustrations for the lavish souvenir brochures he gave away, to paint murals to decorate Tree's apartment at the theatre, make oil paintings of Tree in character, and design posters for at least 35 productions.
Tree's Macbeth opened on 5 September 1911 at His Majesty's Theatre, with Violet Vanbrugh as Lady Macbeth. The production drew some impressive reviews both for its staging and its leading actor. The Observer 'saw the latest Macbeth subtly indicate each symptom of the growing neurotic disease' and admired 'the breadth of tone and touch with which Sir Herbert, discarding all tricks of speech and mannerisms of pose, rose in voice and bearing to the height of a lofty tragic creation'.
The portrait was painted by Charles Buchel (1872-1950) who had a working relationship with Tree at Her Majesty's Theatre for 16 years. Tree commissioned Buchel to provide illustrations for the lavish souvenir brochures he gave away, to paint murals to decorate Tree's apartment at the theatre, make oil paintings of Tree in character, and design posters for at least 35 productions.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Herbert Beerbohm Tree as Macbeth in <i>Macbeth</i>by William Shakespeare (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Oil on millboard |
| Brief description | Herbert Beerbohm Tree (1853-1917) in the title role of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, His Majesty's Theatre 5 September 1911, oil on canvas, 1914, by Charles Buchel (1872-1950) |
| Physical description | Oil painting of Herbert Beerbohm Tree as Macbeth, full length. He stands in an architectural setting, his right foot on a step and stares, wide-eyed, to the viewer's left, his left arm extended. He wears a grey brown tunic with a red drape secured by a brooch at his left shoulder, and brown cross-gartered leggings. He has long red hair and a drooping moustache. In his right hand he holds two daggers. Signed. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Copyright Philip Buchel |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Herbert Beerbohm Tree (1853-1917) was London's leading actor-manager in the Edwardian era. He built His Majesty's Theatre in London's Haymarket which opened in 1897, and his spectacular productions there became famous for their detailed and realistic settings. Tree himself was celebrated for his ability to transform his features for every different role. Tree's Macbeth opened on 5 September 1911 at His Majesty's Theatre, with Violet Vanbrugh as Lady Macbeth. The production drew some impressive reviews both for its staging and its leading actor. The Observer 'saw the latest Macbeth subtly indicate each symptom of the growing neurotic disease' and admired 'the breadth of tone and touch with which Sir Herbert, discarding all tricks of speech and mannerisms of pose, rose in voice and bearing to the height of a lofty tragic creation'. The portrait was painted by Charles Buchel (1872-1950) who had a working relationship with Tree at Her Majesty's Theatre for 16 years. Tree commissioned Buchel to provide illustrations for the lavish souvenir brochures he gave away, to paint murals to decorate Tree's apartment at the theatre, make oil paintings of Tree in character, and design posters for at least 35 productions. |
| 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.217-1987 |
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| Record created | November 6, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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