Not currently on display at the V&A

Caricature

July 1905 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This caricature is of Herbert Shelley performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 17 July 1905. He was billed as ‘The Popular London Actor-Vocalist and Character Impersonator’. It is one of the many superb caricatures of Edwardian music hall performers that were drawn by the artist George Cooke when he was based at the Grand Theatre. He compiled them in a series of albums.

Herbert Shelley (1871–1921) was a writer, actor and composer who regularly appeared in music hall with his own dramatic sketches. He appeared with Wallack’s stock company on Broadway before coming to Great Britain, where he worked with the companies of Osmond Tearle, Charles Wyndham and Arthur Bourchier. One of his most successful sketches was ‘Hamlet the Harmless’, which he wrote for production at the London Coliseum. He also wrote the book for the opera Melnotte, based on The Lady of Lyons. This was first performed at the Coronet Theatre in London in 1901.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink and wash on paper
Brief description
Caricature of the author, composer and actor Herbert Shelley (1871-1921), from an album of caricatures drawn by George Cooke. July 1905.
Physical description
Pen, ink and wash caricature on pink paper of Herbert Shelley, full-length, wearing flamboyant 18th-century style dress of a knee-length lilac coat decorated with gold embroidery, a long lilac waistcoat with gold frogging, a white lace cravat and cuffs. He has black breeches and stockings, and holds a wine glass aloft in his right hand, as if for a toast.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25cm
  • Width: 16.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
Herbert Shelley (Signature; Hand written; Pen and ink)
Object history
This caricature is of Herbert Shelley (1871-1921), author, actor and composer who also appeared in music hall with his own dramatic sketches. He appeared with Wallack's stock company on Broadway before coming to England and working with the companies of Osmond Tearle, Charles Wyndham and Arthur Bourchier. One of his most successful sketches was 'Hamlet the Harmless' which he wrote for production at the London Coliseum. He also wrote the opera 'Melnotte', based on 'The Lady of Lyons'. Herbert Shelley was one of the top-line variety artists who took part in Variety Artists' Federation strike of 1907. The caricature comes from the second album of caricatures in a collection of albums owned by the Theatre Museum compiled by the graphic artist George Cooke. It is labelled by the artist 'Geo Cooke HYS BOOKE' and features music hall performers working in the early 20th century.
Summary
This caricature is of Herbert Shelley performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 17 July 1905. He was billed as ‘The Popular London Actor-Vocalist and Character Impersonator’. It is one of the many superb caricatures of Edwardian music hall performers that were drawn by the artist George Cooke when he was based at the Grand Theatre. He compiled them in a series of albums.

Herbert Shelley (1871–1921) was a writer, actor and composer who regularly appeared in music hall with his own dramatic sketches. He appeared with Wallack’s stock company on Broadway before coming to Great Britain, where he worked with the companies of Osmond Tearle, Charles Wyndham and Arthur Bourchier. One of his most successful sketches was ‘Hamlet the Harmless’, which he wrote for production at the London Coliseum. He also wrote the book for the opera Melnotte, based on The Lady of Lyons. This was first performed at the Coronet Theatre in London in 1901.
Bibliographic reference
Obituary 'The Era' 2 March 1921
Collection
Accession number
S.393:12-2002

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Record createdNovember 12, 2003
Record URL
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