Mr Lee Lewes in the character of Young Wilding
Print
1st September 1780 (published)
1st September 1780 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The Lyar, a three-act farce by the actor, dramatist and theatre manager Samuel Foote (1720 –1777) was first performed as an afterpiece at Covent Garden Theatre on 12th January 1762. Its plot concerns the comeuppance of the incorrigible fantasist Young Wilding. Along with the characters Old Wilding, Sir James Eliot, Miss Godfrey, Kitty and Miss Grantham, the play featured the Frenchman Papillon. Lee Lewes is seen here as Young Wilding in 1780, along with his line: ‘And I am now, Papillion, perfectly equipped?’
The comedian and popular Harlequin Charles Lee Lewes (1740-1803) (originally Lewis) first appeared at Covent Garden on 23rd September 1767 as Prince Henry in King John. Perhaps to avoid confusion with the actor Philip Lewis (also at Covent Garden), he was billed as Lewes. He played various supporting roles during the 1767-8 season, and after appearing in Bristol returned to Covent Garden where he remained for sixteen seasons, playing Harlequin in the 1770-71 season in The Rape of Prosperine, Harlequin's Jubilee, and Mother Shipton. In March 1773 Lewes played Young Marlow in the first performance of Oliver Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer.
The Lyar was also performed in 1802 by arguably Britain’s first amateur dramatic society The Pic-Nic Club. At the time a pic nic was a meal to which everyone contributed a dish.
The comedian and popular Harlequin Charles Lee Lewes (1740-1803) (originally Lewis) first appeared at Covent Garden on 23rd September 1767 as Prince Henry in King John. Perhaps to avoid confusion with the actor Philip Lewis (also at Covent Garden), he was billed as Lewes. He played various supporting roles during the 1767-8 season, and after appearing in Bristol returned to Covent Garden where he remained for sixteen seasons, playing Harlequin in the 1770-71 season in The Rape of Prosperine, Harlequin's Jubilee, and Mother Shipton. In March 1773 Lewes played Young Marlow in the first performance of Oliver Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer.
The Lyar was also performed in 1802 by arguably Britain’s first amateur dramatic society The Pic-Nic Club. At the time a pic nic was a meal to which everyone contributed a dish.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Mr Lee Lewes in the character of Young Wilding (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Print, printed ink on paper |
| Brief description | Mr Lee Lewes (1740-1803) as Young Wilding in The Lyar by Samuel Foote (1720-1777), Covent Garden Theatre 1780. Hand-coloured engraving published by Harrison & Co, London, 1st September 1780. Harry Beard Collection |
| Physical description | Print depicting Lee Lewes, full-length portrait, with the line from Young Wilding below: 'And I am now, Papillion, perfectly equipped?' |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | |
| Credit line | Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard |
| Subject depicted | |
| Association | |
| Summary | The Lyar, a three-act farce by the actor, dramatist and theatre manager Samuel Foote (1720 –1777) was first performed as an afterpiece at Covent Garden Theatre on 12th January 1762. Its plot concerns the comeuppance of the incorrigible fantasist Young Wilding. Along with the characters Old Wilding, Sir James Eliot, Miss Godfrey, Kitty and Miss Grantham, the play featured the Frenchman Papillon. Lee Lewes is seen here as Young Wilding in 1780, along with his line: ‘And I am now, Papillion, perfectly equipped?’ The comedian and popular Harlequin Charles Lee Lewes (1740-1803) (originally Lewis) first appeared at Covent Garden on 23rd September 1767 as Prince Henry in King John. Perhaps to avoid confusion with the actor Philip Lewis (also at Covent Garden), he was billed as Lewes. He played various supporting roles during the 1767-8 season, and after appearing in Bristol returned to Covent Garden where he remained for sixteen seasons, playing Harlequin in the 1770-71 season in The Rape of Prosperine, Harlequin's Jubilee, and Mother Shipton. In March 1773 Lewes played Young Marlow in the first performance of Oliver Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer. The Lyar was also performed in 1802 by arguably Britain’s first amateur dramatic society The Pic-Nic Club. At the time a pic nic was a meal to which everyone contributed a dish. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.985-2013 |
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| Record created | April 2, 2013 |
| Record URL |
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