Not currently on display at the V&A

Poster

Poster
1881 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Poster advertising a production of The Colonel by F.C. Burnand, starring Charles Collette as Colonel Woodd, at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Coventry Street, London, 1881.

The aesthetic satire The Colonel opened on 2nd February at the Prince of Wales Theatre. Adapted by F.C. Burnand, it concerned the duplicitous Professor of Aesthetics Lambert Streyke and his supposed painter nephew, Basil Giorgione, who were thinly-disguised caricatures of the perceived leaders of the 'Aesthetic school' Oscar Wilde and James Whistler. Du Maurier advised Burnand on the design, and the resulting drawing room set, with Morris wallpaper, a dado, blue china, lilies, peacock feathers and Japanese fans, proved so attractive that several critics considered The Colonel a good advertisement for the style it intended to mock.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePoster (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph on paper.
Brief description
Poster advertising a production of The Colonel by F.C. Burnand, starring Charles Collette as Colonel Woodd, at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Coventry Street, London, 1881
Physical description
Pictorial and typographic poster advertising a production of The Colonel by F.C. Burnand, starring Charles Collette as Colonel Woodd, at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Coventry Street, London, 1881. The poster depicts a group of figures, their dress and attitudes mocking the garments, art and behaviour associated with the Aesthetic Movement. In the midst of the scene two small figures, both men, are shown watering a sunflower in a flower pot which towers above them. The image features numerous symbols of the Aesthetic Movement, including further sunflowers, peacock feathers and lilies.
Dimensions
  • Poster height: 37.1cm
  • Poster width: 49.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Stamped with Enthoven collection, V.A.M. stamp.
  • Transliteration
Object history
Associated Production: The Colonel. Playwright: F.C. Burnand. Actor: Charles Collette (Col. Woodd). Edgar Bruce's Company. Prince of Wales Theatre, Coventry Street, London. 2.2.1881. Performance category: comedy, satire.
Summary
Poster advertising a production of The Colonel by F.C. Burnand, starring Charles Collette as Colonel Woodd, at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Coventry Street, London, 1881.

The aesthetic satire The Colonel opened on 2nd February at the Prince of Wales Theatre. Adapted by F.C. Burnand, it concerned the duplicitous Professor of Aesthetics Lambert Streyke and his supposed painter nephew, Basil Giorgione, who were thinly-disguised caricatures of the perceived leaders of the 'Aesthetic school' Oscar Wilde and James Whistler. Du Maurier advised Burnand on the design, and the resulting drawing room set, with Morris wallpaper, a dado, blue china, lilies, peacock feathers and Japanese fans, proved so attractive that several critics considered The Colonel a good advertisement for the style it intended to mock.
Collection
Accession number
S.3331-1994

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 createdJuly 27, 2010
Record URL
Download as: JSON