Charles Macklin as Sir Gilbert Wrangle
Tile
ca.1777 (made)
ca.1777 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This tile, showing Charles Macklin (1699-1777) as Sir Gilbert Wrangle in The Refusal, is one of a series of late 18th-century tiles of actors and actresses produced in Liverpool by John Sadler (1720-1789). Sadler experimented with transfer-printing on white glazed delftware tiles, transferring images from engraved copper plates to tiles, using enamel colours fixed in low-temperature firing.
Actors and actresses could become big stars in the 18th century, when theatres, concert halls and pleasure gardens were the major forms of public entertainment. Engravers regularly produced images of paintings of the most popular performers, so the ability to reproduce engravings on ceramics was a lucrative development. Since the engravings were transfer-printed, the original images appear on the tiles in reverse.
Charles Macklin (1699-1797) was born in Ireland. He may have started his stage career around 1720, playing Harlequin with strolling players, and his first appearance on the London stage was probably at Lincoln's Inn Fields in 1725. In 1733 he appeared at Drury Lane in The Recruiting Officer. He persuaded the management there to revive The Merchant of Venice which made him famous overnight for his Shylock. Well known for his quarrelsome nature and 'his rough mind and rougher manner', it is said that he lived in the shadow of David Garrick and never achieved the recognition he deserved. His last appearance on stage was in May 1789 when he attempted Shylock, but was unable to finish it.
Actors and actresses could become big stars in the 18th century, when theatres, concert halls and pleasure gardens were the major forms of public entertainment. Engravers regularly produced images of paintings of the most popular performers, so the ability to reproduce engravings on ceramics was a lucrative development. Since the engravings were transfer-printed, the original images appear on the tiles in reverse.
Charles Macklin (1699-1797) was born in Ireland. He may have started his stage career around 1720, playing Harlequin with strolling players, and his first appearance on the London stage was probably at Lincoln's Inn Fields in 1725. In 1733 he appeared at Drury Lane in The Recruiting Officer. He persuaded the management there to revive The Merchant of Venice which made him famous overnight for his Shylock. Well known for his quarrelsome nature and 'his rough mind and rougher manner', it is said that he lived in the shadow of David Garrick and never achieved the recognition he deserved. His last appearance on stage was in May 1789 when he attempted Shylock, but was unable to finish it.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Charles Macklin as Sir Gilbert Wrangle (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Glazed earthenware |
| Brief description | Tile decorated with an image of Charles Macklin (1699-1777) as Sir Gilbert Wrangle in The Refusal, or, The Ladies' Philosophy, partly translated from the French by Colley Cibber. Taken from the engraving by Thornthwaite after the drawing by J. Roberts, published as a plate to Bell's British Theatre, 1777. Tin-glazed earthenware Delft tile produced by James Sadler, Liverpool, 1777-1780 |
| Physical description | Square glazed cream earthenware tile, transfer-printed with a decorative border of trellis work, and symbolic theatrical objects on the right and left sides including a flaming torch, comedy and tragedy masks, and a lyre. There is a central image of Charles Macklin standing, his head inclined to the right, his hands in front of his body. He is wearing knee-length breeches, a waistcoat and a coat. In a ribbon ground above his head is the name: 'MR MACKLIN', and below: 'in the character of SIR GILBERT WRANGLE'. Decoration in underglaze blue-black colour. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996 |
| Production | The image is taken from an engraving by J. Roberts, published as a plate to Bell's British Theatre, 1777. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This tile, showing Charles Macklin (1699-1777) as Sir Gilbert Wrangle in The Refusal, is one of a series of late 18th-century tiles of actors and actresses produced in Liverpool by John Sadler (1720-1789). Sadler experimented with transfer-printing on white glazed delftware tiles, transferring images from engraved copper plates to tiles, using enamel colours fixed in low-temperature firing. Actors and actresses could become big stars in the 18th century, when theatres, concert halls and pleasure gardens were the major forms of public entertainment. Engravers regularly produced images of paintings of the most popular performers, so the ability to reproduce engravings on ceramics was a lucrative development. Since the engravings were transfer-printed, the original images appear on the tiles in reverse. Charles Macklin (1699-1797) was born in Ireland. He may have started his stage career around 1720, playing Harlequin with strolling players, and his first appearance on the London stage was probably at Lincoln's Inn Fields in 1725. In 1733 he appeared at Drury Lane in The Recruiting Officer. He persuaded the management there to revive The Merchant of Venice which made him famous overnight for his Shylock. Well known for his quarrelsome nature and 'his rough mind and rougher manner', it is said that he lived in the shadow of David Garrick and never achieved the recognition he deserved. His last appearance on stage was in May 1789 when he attempted Shylock, but was unable to finish it. |
| Bibliographic reference | A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers and other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800, vol. 10. Published by Southern Illinois University Press, 1993. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.629-1997 |
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| Record created | November 7, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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