Pencil caricature of Stewart Passenger conducting a performance of Little Miss Muffet, Christmas 1955, drawn by Gilbert J. Sommerlad, England, dated 1955/56

Pencil caricature of Stewart Passenger conducting a performance of Little Miss Muffet, Christmas 1955, dated 1955/56, 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.

The signature of the individual depicted on this caricature is indistinct, but is thought to read 'Stewart Passenger'.

This caricature shows Stewart Passenger conducting a performance of Little Miss Muffet at the Oxford New Theatre, Christmas 1955. 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.

S.130:34-2002