Mr. Lee Lewes in the Character of Harlequin
Tile
ca.1770 (made)
ca.1770 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The comedian Charles Lee Lewes (1740-1803) in seen here as Harlequin, the magical figure in the second part of an 18th century pantomime whose love interest was always Columbine. He is shown wearing Harlequin's traditional leather half-mask and holding in his left hand his magical bat that could effect wonderful tranformations when tapped against the scenic flats.
Charles Lee Lewes (originally Lewis) first appeared at Covent Garden on 23rd September 1767 as Prince Henry in King John. Perhaps to avoid confusion with the actor Philip Lewis (also at Covent Garden), he was now billed as Lee Lewes. He played various supporting roles during the 1767-8 season, and after appearing in Bristol returned to Covent Garden where he remained for sixteen seasons, playing Harlequin in the 1770-71 season in The Rape of Prosperine, Harlequin's Jubilee, and Mother Shipton. In March 1773 Lewes also played Young Marlow in the first performance of Oliver Goldsmith's popular comedy She Stoops to Conquer.
This tile was made in Liverpool by the firm Sadler and Green. John Sadler and Guy Green were working together transfer-printing tin-glazed tiles in 1756 and formed a legal partnership in 1761. After Sadler's retirement in 1770 Green continued to run the manufactory and continued printing tiles until at least 1780.
Charles Lee Lewes (originally Lewis) first appeared at Covent Garden on 23rd September 1767 as Prince Henry in King John. Perhaps to avoid confusion with the actor Philip Lewis (also at Covent Garden), he was now billed as Lee Lewes. He played various supporting roles during the 1767-8 season, and after appearing in Bristol returned to Covent Garden where he remained for sixteen seasons, playing Harlequin in the 1770-71 season in The Rape of Prosperine, Harlequin's Jubilee, and Mother Shipton. In March 1773 Lewes also played Young Marlow in the first performance of Oliver Goldsmith's popular comedy She Stoops to Conquer.
This tile was made in Liverpool by the firm Sadler and Green. John Sadler and Guy Green were working together transfer-printing tin-glazed tiles in 1756 and formed a legal partnership in 1761. After Sadler's retirement in 1770 Green continued to run the manufactory and continued printing tiles until at least 1780.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Mr. Lee Lewes in the Character of Harlequin (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Earthenware |
| Brief description | Tin-glazed earthenware tile with dark red transfer print depicting Charles Lee Lewes (1740-1803) as Harlequin. Produced by Guy Green of Sadler and Green, Liverpool, ca.1770 |
| Physical description | Tin-glazed earthenware, design of full-length portrait of Lee Lewes in the character as Harlequin with an elaborate border including masks, torches and musical instruments. Transfer printed on a white background from an engraved copper plate, by Guy Green, of Sadler and Green. England (Liverpool), about 1777-1780 |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996 |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The comedian Charles Lee Lewes (1740-1803) in seen here as Harlequin, the magical figure in the second part of an 18th century pantomime whose love interest was always Columbine. He is shown wearing Harlequin's traditional leather half-mask and holding in his left hand his magical bat that could effect wonderful tranformations when tapped against the scenic flats. Charles Lee Lewes (originally Lewis) first appeared at Covent Garden on 23rd September 1767 as Prince Henry in King John. Perhaps to avoid confusion with the actor Philip Lewis (also at Covent Garden), he was now billed as Lee Lewes. He played various supporting roles during the 1767-8 season, and after appearing in Bristol returned to Covent Garden where he remained for sixteen seasons, playing Harlequin in the 1770-71 season in The Rape of Prosperine, Harlequin's Jubilee, and Mother Shipton. In March 1773 Lewes also played Young Marlow in the first performance of Oliver Goldsmith's popular comedy She Stoops to Conquer. This tile was made in Liverpool by the firm Sadler and Green. John Sadler and Guy Green were working together transfer-printing tin-glazed tiles in 1756 and formed a legal partnership in 1761. After Sadler's retirement in 1770 Green continued to run the manufactory and continued printing tiles until at least 1780. |
| Associated objects |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.619-1997 |
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 | October 20, 2009 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
