H A Homann; design for a costume, possibly Autumn or Harvest, 1905

Design/ illustration of a woman in theatrical garments on card. The figure of the woman is in the centre of the stage wearing a dress and headdress of decorated with grapes and leaves. The dress has a corseted bodice of red and white stripes and a cape of diaphanous pale green material. In the lower right hand corner is a small image of the back of the cape with a large bow. The drawing is signed 'Homann 1905', lightly in pencil. The back of the card has the outline of 2 parts of a figure; 1 of the skirt and 1 of a leg and waist.

Given by Jillian Lees

The firm of W. Homann & Son of 60 Berners Street, London, were interior designers and house painters. Their most prestigious commission came from Queen Victoria for Osborne House (c.1847-50), and throughout the 19th century they continued to design interiors for grand houses. It seems that William Henry Homann originally established the firm in the 1840s. His son, Henry William Homann was admitted to the Company of Painters and Stainers in 1864. H. W. Homann’s son, H. A. Homann, continued the family business into the 20th century. Under H. A. Homann the company seems to have diversified and undertook work for the Drury Lane Theatre, for which the donor believes these works to have been completed.

Believed to have been made for an un-identified production at Drury Lane theatre.

The costume design is for a dress in red and green with an underskirt featuring a trellis laden with grapes; perhaps a representation of autumn or harvest. It may be that Homann created costumes to represent all the seasons, as another design in the collection may be a representation of summer.

E.2785-2016