Playbill
1841 (possibly) (printed)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
The illustration on this playbill showing Venus in her conch shell surrounded by arching water spouts and billowing smoke was obviously inspired by the allegorical tableau Venus Rising From the Sea, part of the entertainment on offer for Mr. Danson's Benefit at the Stuartfield Gardens in Bonnington Toll, Edinburgh. According to Greek legend about the birth of the goddess, Venus arose from the foam of the sea shore. She is depicted here accompanied by two Tritons or sea-gods, merman creatures with the torsos of men and the tails of fish who usually formed the escort of marine divinities. The evening also appears to have featured another tableau based on Vesuvius, the volcano on the Bay of Naples which erupted eight times during the 19th century.
Since this evening is advertised as: 'the Benefit of Mr. Danson', he would have received a portion of the evening's takings, since theatrical Benefits were a way of providing occasional extra income to cast and staff involved in a production.
Since this evening is advertised as: 'the Benefit of Mr. Danson', he would have received a portion of the evening's takings, since theatrical Benefits were a way of providing occasional extra income to cast and staff involved in a production.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | printed paper |
Brief description | Poster advertising the entertainment Will o' the Wisp!, or, the Water Tumbler followed by the allegorical tableau Venus Rising from the Sea followed by Vesuvius, Stuartfield Gardens, Bonnington Toll, Edinburgh, 20 October, possibly 1841. |
Physical description | Typographical poster printed in red ink, headed with the name of the venue 'STUARTFIELD GARDENS Bonnington Toll, Edinburgh' in upper and lower case lettering, above the date 'Wednesday Oct. 20'. The playbill is illustrated with an image of Venus rising from the sea with a Triton on each side, below which is letterpress-printed text advertising the evening's entertainment, the 'new subject Will o' the Wisp!, or, the Water Tumbler followed by the allegorical tableau Venus Rising from the Sea and Vesuvius. 'For the Benefit of Mr. Danson' appears in uppercase lettering along the bottom of the poster, above the name of the printer. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions |
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Credit line | Gabrielle Enthoven Collection |
Subject depicted | |
Literary reference | Birth of Venus |
Summary | The illustration on this playbill showing Venus in her conch shell surrounded by arching water spouts and billowing smoke was obviously inspired by the allegorical tableau Venus Rising From the Sea, part of the entertainment on offer for Mr. Danson's Benefit at the Stuartfield Gardens in Bonnington Toll, Edinburgh. According to Greek legend about the birth of the goddess, Venus arose from the foam of the sea shore. She is depicted here accompanied by two Tritons or sea-gods, merman creatures with the torsos of men and the tails of fish who usually formed the escort of marine divinities. The evening also appears to have featured another tableau based on Vesuvius, the volcano on the Bay of Naples which erupted eight times during the 19th century. Since this evening is advertised as: 'the Benefit of Mr. Danson', he would have received a portion of the evening's takings, since theatrical Benefits were a way of providing occasional extra income to cast and staff involved in a production. |
Collection | |
Accession number | S.224-2011 |
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Record created | June 21, 2011 |
Record URL |
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