Not currently on display at the V&A

Andrea Chenier

Design
1959 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Design for a stage costume for an unidentified female character in a production of Andrea Chenier, created by Leslie Hurry, 1959. The image is labelled 'Miss Clarkson' and it is likely that the costume was designed for the mezzo soprano Joan Clarkson.

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 a stage costume for an unidentified female character in a production of Andrea Chenier, created by Leslie Hurry, 1959
Physical description
Design for a stage costume for an unidentified female character in a production of Andrea Chenier, created by Leslie Hurry, 1959.

The design shows a full length image of a female figure in a full skirted dress with a seagreen underskirt and a close fitting bodice extending into a deep point at the centre front. The dress is decorated with garlands of roses and has large hanging pleated cuffs at the elbow. She wears a matching rose in her hair and her left hand is upraised and she is holding a fan.
Dimensions
  • Height: 38.7cm
  • Width: 29.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'MISS CLARKSON' (Handwritten annotation in black ink, bottom left hand corner)
  • '12 yds overskirt' (Handwritten annotation in biro on the rear of the print, bottom left hand corner)
  • '8 yds underskirt' (Handwritten annotation in black biro on the rear of the design.)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Caro Rathbone
Literary referenceAndrea Chenier
Summary
Design for a stage costume for an unidentified female character in a production of Andrea Chenier, created by Leslie Hurry, 1959. The image is labelled 'Miss Clarkson' and it is likely that the costume was designed for the mezzo soprano Joan Clarkson.

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.1881-2014

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Record createdAugust 26, 2014
Record URL
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