Not currently on display at the V&A

Andrea Chenier

Design
1959 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Design for five stage costumes for a group of characters in Act III of a production of Andrea Chenier. Created by Leslie Hurry, 1959.

Andrea Chenier by Umberto Giordano & Luigi Illica translated by Tom Hammond was produced by Anthony Besch for Sadler's Wells Opera initially at Coventry Theatre on 11 September 1959, and toured before its official premiere Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London on 13 October 1959.

Andrea Chenier was first produced at La Scala, Milan in 1896 but is not frequently performed in Britain. It is based loosely on the life of the French poet, André Chénier (1762-1794), who was executed during the French Revolution. The opera was chosen to open Sadler’s Wells Theatre after the building of a new proscenium arch for the stage and improved acoustics.

A review published in The Times 14th October, 1959, noted that ‘the sets and dresses by Leslie Hurry had the authentic French Revolutionary appearance.’






Object details

Category
Object type
TitleAndrea Chenier (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Black ink, watercolour and pencil drawing
Brief description
Design for five stage costumes for a group of characters in Act III of a production of Andrea Chenier. Created by Leslie Hurry, 1959
Physical description
Design for five stage costumes for a group of characters in Act III of a production of Andrea Chenier. Created by Leslie Hurry, 1959.

The design includes a costume for the character of Schmidt, a jailor at St. Lazare Prison. It shows a 5 full length male figures, the men are dressed in costumes of varying quality and complexity. The three figures on the left are dressed in three piece suits, with close fitting knee breeches, waistcoats, and cutaway coats with wide revers. The jailor wears a long, rough, black coat, dark trousers and a red phrygian cap. The final male figure, on the right hand side, is dressed only in a white shirt and pale blue knee breeches.
Dimensions
  • Height: 27cm
  • Width: 38.7cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Leslie Hurry' (Handwritten signature in pen, bottom left hand corner)
  • '[illegible, Act III] (Handwritten annotation in pen and ink, left hand base of the design.)
  • 'Schmidt, Gaoler' (Handwritten annotation in pen and ink, at the base of one of the male figures, right hand side.)
  • 'Noble de la Rose' (Handwritten annotation in pen and ink, at the base of a male figure on the far right hand side.)
  • 'Andrea Chenier' (Handwritten annotation in crayon on the rear of the design.)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Caro Rathbone
Literary referenceAndrea Chenier
Summary
Design for five stage costumes for a group of characters in Act III of a production of Andrea Chenier. Created by Leslie Hurry, 1959.

Andrea Chenier by Umberto Giordano & Luigi Illica translated by Tom Hammond was produced by Anthony Besch for Sadler's Wells Opera initially at Coventry Theatre on 11 September 1959, and toured before its official premiere Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London on 13 October 1959.

Andrea Chenier was first produced at La Scala, Milan in 1896 but is not frequently performed in Britain. It is based loosely on the life of the French poet, André Chénier (1762-1794), who was executed during the French Revolution. The opera was chosen to open Sadler’s Wells Theatre after the building of a new proscenium arch for the stage and improved acoustics.

A review published in The Times 14th October, 1959, noted that ‘the sets and dresses by Leslie Hurry had the authentic French Revolutionary appearance.’




Collection
Accession number
S.1874-2014

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Record createdAugust 12, 2014
Record URL
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