Not currently on display at the V&A

E.F. Fienborg conducting a performance of Meet Mr Kalanag

Caricature
14 August 1954 (dated)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This caricature shows E.F. Fienborg conducting a performance of Meet Mr Kalanag at the Oxford New Theatre on 14 August 1954. 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 for over forty years from 1936. 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
TitleE.F. Fienborg conducting a performance of <font -i>Meet Mr Kalanag</font -i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil on cream cartridge paper
Brief description
Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of E. F. Fienborg conducting a performance of Meet Mr. Kalanag at the Oxford New Theatre, dated 14 August 1954
Physical description
Pencil caricature of E.F. Fienborg conducting a performance of Meet Mr. Kalanag, dated 14 August 1954, 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.
Dimensions
  • Height: 16.8cm
  • Width: 12.9cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • '"MEET MR. KULANAG" OXFORD 14.8.54 GLORIA TUSCH (CHORD) Frienborg' (Pencil inscription by Gilbert Sommerlad)
  • 'The best wishes for you E.F. Fienborg 1954' (Pen and ink dedication and signature by E.F. Fienborg)
Credit line
Given by Michael Sommerlad
Object history
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 at 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.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This caricature shows E.F. Fienborg conducting a performance of Meet Mr Kalanag at the Oxford New Theatre on 14 August 1954. 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 for over forty years from 1936. 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.130:27-2002

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Record createdDecember 15, 2003
Record URL
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