Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Tom Lewis conducting a performance of King's Rhapsody, Oxford New Theatre, 1952

Pencil caricature of Tom Lewis conducting a performance of King's Rhapsody, dated 1952, part of an artist's hard-backed sketch book manufactured by George Rowney & Co., called 'The Euston Sketch Book'. The pencilled sketch is drawn directly onto the page (cream cartridge paper). Titled and dated by the artist and signed by the subject.

Given by Michael Sommerlad

The artist of these caricatures, Gilbert Sommerlad, was by profession a musician who was born into a family that had a long tradition of professional musicians. In 1936 he moved to the recently built New Theatre, Oxford, to join his brother Roy (violin and clarinet) as resident pianist.

Gilbert was an exceptionally good and popular rehearsal pianist, and visiting companies and individual performers used to make sure that he would be available. He became well-known in the profession and his ability as a caricaturist became common knowledge. The volume that includes this drawing contains sketches mostly of musical directors and conductors working at the Oxford New Theatre with Gilbert Sommerlad.

This caricature shows Tom Lewis conducting a performance of King's Rhapsody at the Oxford New Theatre in 1952. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.

Another drawing by Gilbert Sommerlad shows Harry Acres conducting the successful Ivor Novello musical King's Rhapsody at the New Theatre, so Tom Lewis must have shared the conducting with him.

S.130:6-2002