Not currently on display at the V&A

Helen Landis in The King and I

Caricature
14 October 1956 (dated)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This caricature shows Helen Landis in The King and I at the Oxford New Theatre on 14 October 1956. 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.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleHelen Landis in <i>The King and I</i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil, pen and ink and wash on paper
Brief description
Pencil, pen and ink and wash caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Helen Landis as Anna Leonowens in The King and I, New Theatre Oxford. Dated 14 October 1956.
Physical description
Pencil, pen and ink and wash caricature of Helen Landis in The King and I, New Theatre Oxford. Dated 14 October 1956. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad.
Dimensions
  • Height: 26.5cm (Note: This is the height unmounted. Including the mount the height is 28cm.)
  • Width: 18cm (Note: This is the width unmounted. Including the mount the width is 20.5cm.)
This is in a bound book.
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 December 1951 and October 1957 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 Helen Landis in The King and I at the Oxford New Theatre on 14 October 1956. 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.
Collection
Accession number
S.132:73-2002

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

Record createdDecember 5, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSON