Watercolour sketch created for publication in a magazine/newspaper, probably The Penny Illustrated Paper. The illustration is not signed or dated but is captioned 'Mr Auguste Van Biene playing to the inmates of a London Hospital'. Given by Sir William Ingram, 1914

Watercolour sketch created for publication in a magazine/newspaper, probably The Penny Illustrated Paper. The illustration is not signed or dated but is captioned 'Mr Auguste Van Biene playing to the inmates of a London Hospital'. It shows the cellist (1849-1913) in the midst of playing, he is surrounded by a group of patients and nurses who have gathered to listen to him perform. Given by Sir William Ingram, 1914.

Given by Sir William Ingram

Sir William Ingram (27 October 1847 – 18 December 1924) was a Liberal politician who was elected to, and sat in, the House of Commons on three occasions between 1878 and 1895. He was also the Managing Director of The Illustrated London News from the late 1870s until 1900 and became the proprietor of a number of additional publications including The Sketch and The English Illustrated Magazine.

The Illustrated London News was the world's first illustrated weekly newspaper. Founded by Sir William Ingram’s father, Herbert Ingram, in 1842 the first edition was sold on 14th May 1842 at a cost of sixpence per copy. Building from an original circulation of 26,000 to in excess of 300,000 at its peak, The Illustrated London News remained in print until 2003 and commissioned illustrations from many of the leading artists of the late 19th century. Photographs were used alongside illustrations from the late 19th century onwards but illustrations were a major feature of paper until after the end of First World War.

Watercolour sketch created for publication in a magazine/newspaper, probably The Penny Illustrated Paper. The illustration is not signed or dated but is captioned 'Mr Auguste Van Biene playing to the inmates of a London Hospital'. It shows the cellist (1849-1913) in the midst of playing, he is surrounded by a group of patients and nurses who have gathered to listen to him perform.

This item is one of several theatrical drawings from a collection of sketches commissioned from contemporary artists to be printed in illustrated magazines. The collection was donated to the museum by Sir William James Ingram in 1914.

S.304-2012