Not currently on display at the V&A

John Clements Conducting a Rehearsal of 'Pygmalion' by George Bernard Shaw

Painting
1972 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Laurence Irving (1897-1988), grandson of the actor Henry Irving, trained at the Royal Academy and became an artist and set designer, working in the theatre and for films. Irving designed the sets for George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion when it was staged at the St James's Theatre in 1953. He painted his picture of a rehearsal in 1972, working from sketches made at the time. The play was directed by the actor-manager John Clements, who also played Professor Henry Higgins. His wife, Kay Hammond, was Eliza Doolittle.

The painting shows stage hands setting the scenery for Professor Higgins's sitting room. Irving painted himself in the picture: he is the figure in painter's overalls standing in the stalls. John Clements is sitting in the front row; his assistant, taking notes, is on his left. At the front of the stage, shielding his eyes from the lights, is stage manager Harry Fine. In the right hand corner is the theatre cleaner who, according to the artist, vacuumed the carpet regardless of rehearsals.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleJohn Clements Conducting a Rehearsal of 'Pygmalion' by George Bernard Shaw (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Oil on canvas
Brief description
Painting entitled "John Clements conducting a rehearsal of 'Pygmalion' by George Bernard Shaw" by Laurence Irving, 1972
Physical description
Auditorium of a theatre, with stage hands moving scenery on stage. A male figure in a yellow jacket stands at front of stage shielding his eyes from the light. Sitting in the stalls two male figures, with a third standing in the row behind. In the right hand corner a woman vacuuming the carpet.
Dimensions
  • Height: 51cm
  • Width: 76.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
Monogram and date (Bottom right hand corner)
Gallery label
The painting shows the on-stage assembly of Professor Higgins's Wimpole Street sitting room. Other participants discuss the rehearsal: the stage manager Harry Fine (in yellow), the designer Laurence Irving, and the director and lead actor John Clements. Irving painted this scene from sketches almost 30 years later.(2014)
Credit line
Given by the artist
Subjects depicted
Summary
Laurence Irving (1897-1988), grandson of the actor Henry Irving, trained at the Royal Academy and became an artist and set designer, working in the theatre and for films. Irving designed the sets for George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion when it was staged at the St James's Theatre in 1953. He painted his picture of a rehearsal in 1972, working from sketches made at the time. The play was directed by the actor-manager John Clements, who also played Professor Henry Higgins. His wife, Kay Hammond, was Eliza Doolittle.

The painting shows stage hands setting the scenery for Professor Higgins's sitting room. Irving painted himself in the picture: he is the figure in painter's overalls standing in the stalls. John Clements is sitting in the front row; his assistant, taking notes, is on his left. At the front of the stage, shielding his eyes from the lights, is stage manager Harry Fine. In the right hand corner is the theatre cleaner who, according to the artist, vacuumed the carpet regardless of rehearsals.
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.1116-1983

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Record createdNovember 13, 2003
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