Athene Seyler in Breath of Spring
Caricature
4 June 1959 (dated)
4 June 1959 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature shows Athene Seyler (1889-1990) as Dame Beatrice in Breath of Spring by Peter Coke at the Oxford New Theatre in June 1959. 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.
Athene Seyler made her first London stage appearance in 1909. She acted in silent films in the 1920s, and was awarded a CBE in 1958 in recognition of her fifty-year career. She was especially noted for comic parts on stage and in films.
Athene Seyler made her first London stage appearance in 1909. She acted in silent films in the 1920s, and was awarded a CBE in 1958 in recognition of her fifty-year career. She was especially noted for comic parts on stage and in films.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Athene Seyler in <i>Breath of Spring</i> (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil, pen and ink and wash on paper |
| Brief description | Pencil, pen and ink and wash caricature on paper of Athene Seyler in Breath of Spring at the New Theatre Oxford, by Gilbert Sommerlad, 4 June 1959. |
| Physical description | Pencil, pen and ink and wash caricature of Athene Seyler in Breath of Spring at the New Theatre Oxford. Dated 4 June 1959. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Given by Michael Sommerlad |
| Object history | This caricature comes from an album of caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert J.Sommerlad (1904-1976) between October 1957 and October 1965 at the Oxford New Theatre. Gilbert Sommerlad moved from Brighton to the recently built New Theatre, Oxford, to join his brother Roy (violin and clarinet) as resident pianist in 1936. He continued with his caricatures until his retirement. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This caricature shows Athene Seyler (1889-1990) as Dame Beatrice in Breath of Spring by Peter Coke at the Oxford New Theatre in June 1959. 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. Athene Seyler made her first London stage appearance in 1909. She acted in silent films in the 1920s, and was awarded a CBE in 1958 in recognition of her fifty-year career. She was especially noted for comic parts on stage and in films. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.133:20-2002 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | December 5, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
