Charles Kean as Rolla
Figurine
ca.1860 (made)
ca.1860 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Stars of the 19th century were often celebrated in paintings, prints and drawings, and in ceramic figurines. From the mid-1830s until the early 1900s several Staffordshire factories specialised in moulded earthenware portrait figurines which were decorated by hand and sold cheaply. This represents the actor Charles Kean (1811-1868) as Rolla in the melodrama Pizarro, carrying to safety the infant son of the Spaniard Alonzo and his Inca wife. It was modelled on a print published by the toy theatre publisher, A. Park.
A great success when first staged at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in 1799, Pizarro was often revived in the 19th century. Adapted by Richard Brinsley Sheridan from the play The Spaniard in Peru by the German author Augustus von Kotzebue, it concerned the Spaniard Francisco Pizarro waging a war of conquest against the Inca Empire of Peru. Audiences loved the exotic sets and costumes, and actors found the role of the Inca Rolla, who dies saving the child, a suitably heroic part. Charles Kean played Rolla at the Princess's Theatre in 1856, repeating the success his father Edmund Kean had with the role at Drury Lane in 1819.
A great success when first staged at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in 1799, Pizarro was often revived in the 19th century. Adapted by Richard Brinsley Sheridan from the play The Spaniard in Peru by the German author Augustus von Kotzebue, it concerned the Spaniard Francisco Pizarro waging a war of conquest against the Inca Empire of Peru. Audiences loved the exotic sets and costumes, and actors found the role of the Inca Rolla, who dies saving the child, a suitably heroic part. Charles Kean played Rolla at the Princess's Theatre in 1856, repeating the success his father Edmund Kean had with the role at Drury Lane in 1819.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Charles Kean as Rolla (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Lead-glazed earthenware |
| Brief description | Charles Kean as Rolla carrying the infant son of Alonzo to safety in the melodrama Pizarro, adapted by Richard Brinsley Sheridan from the play The Spaniard in Peru by Augustus von Kotzebue, Princess's Theatre, 1 September 1856. After a print published by A. Park. Earthenware pair group, Staffordshire, ca.1860 |
| Physical description | Lazed earthenware figure of Charles Kean as Rolla. He wears a white tunic with gilt detail, and a white hat. He holds both arms aloft. In his right hand he has a sword, his left supports a young boy who is balanced on his shoulder. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996 |
| Historical context | Charles Kean revived Pizarro at the Princess's Theatre with his wife Ellen Tree as Elvira on 1 September 1856. A. Park would have published the engraved portrait soon after the production opened. |
| Production | Modelled after a print by A. Park, ca.1856, inscribed 'Mr. C. Kean as Rolla'. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Stars of the 19th century were often celebrated in paintings, prints and drawings, and in ceramic figurines. From the mid-1830s until the early 1900s several Staffordshire factories specialised in moulded earthenware portrait figurines which were decorated by hand and sold cheaply. This represents the actor Charles Kean (1811-1868) as Rolla in the melodrama Pizarro, carrying to safety the infant son of the Spaniard Alonzo and his Inca wife. It was modelled on a print published by the toy theatre publisher, A. Park. A great success when first staged at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in 1799, Pizarro was often revived in the 19th century. Adapted by Richard Brinsley Sheridan from the play The Spaniard in Peru by the German author Augustus von Kotzebue, it concerned the Spaniard Francisco Pizarro waging a war of conquest against the Inca Empire of Peru. Audiences loved the exotic sets and costumes, and actors found the role of the Inca Rolla, who dies saving the child, a suitably heroic part. Charles Kean played Rolla at the Princess's Theatre in 1856, repeating the success his father Edmund Kean had with the role at Drury Lane in 1819. |
| Bibliographic reference | Staffordshire Portrait Figures of the Victoria Era by P.D. Gordon Pugh, p.450, fig.152. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.1033-1996 |
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 | January 4, 2006 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
