Figurine of John Liston as Van Dunder
Figurine
ca.1830 (made)
ca.1830 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is John Liston (1776-1846), the highest-paid comic actor on the English stage in his day, as Van Dunder in John Poole's comedy 'Twould Puzzle a Conjurer, first produced at London's Haymarket Theatre on 11 September 1824. It is based on a print published by Hodgson in 1826 which shows Liston as nine of his best-known characters. Pottery figures of seven of the characters are known to exist.
Despite a rather serious temperament, Liston achieved his greatest successes in farce, and particularly as Paul Pry, a role in which he was often depicted in paintings, drawings and figurines. Liston was the first comic actor to command a salary greater than a tragedian, earning the vast salary of £60-£100 a week with Madame Vestris's company at the Olympic Theatre. He retired in 1837 after a career of over 30 years.
Despite a rather serious temperament, Liston achieved his greatest successes in farce, and particularly as Paul Pry, a role in which he was often depicted in paintings, drawings and figurines. Liston was the first comic actor to command a salary greater than a tragedian, earning the vast salary of £60-£100 a week with Madame Vestris's company at the Olympic Theatre. He retired in 1837 after a career of over 30 years.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Figurine of John Liston as Van Dunder (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Glazed earthenware |
| Brief description | Figurine of John Liston as Van Dunder in John Poole's comedy 'Twould Puzzle a Conjurer, Haymarket Theatre, 11 September 1824. Robert Bloor & Co, ca.1830 |
| Physical description | Polychromed ceramic figure of the actor John Liston as Van Dunder in John Poole's play 'Twould Puzzle a Conjuror, wearing baggy Dutch bloomers and large-buckled shoes, standing on a square green base edged with a gilt line, in front of a pillar, holding a scroll. |
| 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 |
| Object history | This shows the leading comic actor John Liston as Van Dunder in John Poole's play 'Twould Puzzle a Conjuror, Haymarket Theatre, 11 September 1824, which was adapted as a vehicle for Liston from an earlier play of Poole's The Burgomaster of Sardaam. The play's title comes from Liston's catch-phrase in the play. |
| Association | |
| Summary | This is John Liston (1776-1846), the highest-paid comic actor on the English stage in his day, as Van Dunder in John Poole's comedy 'Twould Puzzle a Conjurer, first produced at London's Haymarket Theatre on 11 September 1824. It is based on a print published by Hodgson in 1826 which shows Liston as nine of his best-known characters. Pottery figures of seven of the characters are known to exist. Despite a rather serious temperament, Liston achieved his greatest successes in farce, and particularly as Paul Pry, a role in which he was often depicted in paintings, drawings and figurines. Liston was the first comic actor to command a salary greater than a tragedian, earning the vast salary of £60-£100 a week with Madame Vestris's company at the Olympic Theatre. He retired in 1837 after a career of over 30 years. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.997-1996 |
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| Record created | December 28, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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