Caricature
August 1905 (drawn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature is of Norman French performing in Hanley in August 1905. 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 of Varieties, Hanley. He compiled them in a series of albums.
Although not dressed for the act in this image, Norman French was described by the artist George Cooke as a ‘sand dancer’. When he appeared at the Grand Theatre at Hanley in February 1903, the reviewer noted, ‘Mr Norman French, the comedian and eccentric dancer, is about the most gifted of this class of entertainer who has yet put in an appearance at this hall’.
The sand dance was a popular music hall number in which the performer did an ‘eccentric dance’ with exaggerated movements, dressed in a vaguely 'Egyptian' style. Wilson, Keppel and Betty were exponents of the act in the 1930s. Their fame was more enduring than that of Norman French.
Although not dressed for the act in this image, Norman French was described by the artist George Cooke as a ‘sand dancer’. When he appeared at the Grand Theatre at Hanley in February 1903, the reviewer noted, ‘Mr Norman French, the comedian and eccentric dancer, is about the most gifted of this class of entertainer who has yet put in an appearance at this hall’.
The sand dance was a popular music hall number in which the performer did an ‘eccentric dance’ with exaggerated movements, dressed in a vaguely 'Egyptian' style. Wilson, Keppel and Betty were exponents of the act in the 1930s. Their fame was more enduring than that of Norman French.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and wash on paper |
| Brief description | Caricature of the music hall performer and sand dancer Norman French, from an album of caricatures drawn by George Cooke. August 1905. |
| Physical description | Pen, ink and wash caricature on pink paper of Norman French, full-length, in evening dress, wearing a black top hat and carrying a silver-topped cane |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Yours faithfully Norman French. Aug 16 1905 (Signature; Hand written; Pen and ink) |
| Object history | This caricature comes from the second album of caricatures in a collection of albums 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 Norman French performing in Hanley in August 1905. 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 of Varieties, Hanley. He compiled them in a series of albums. Although not dressed for the act in this image, Norman French was described by the artist George Cooke as a ‘sand dancer’. When he appeared at the Grand Theatre at Hanley in February 1903, the reviewer noted, ‘Mr Norman French, the comedian and eccentric dancer, is about the most gifted of this class of entertainer who has yet put in an appearance at this hall’. The sand dance was a popular music hall number in which the performer did an ‘eccentric dance’ with exaggerated movements, dressed in a vaguely 'Egyptian' style. Wilson, Keppel and Betty were exponents of the act in the 1930s. Their fame was more enduring than that of Norman French. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.393:14-2002 |
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| Record created | November 12, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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