Costume design by Wilhelm (William John Charles Pitcher) for an Ancestor, late 17th century, in the first production of Gilbert and Sullivan's opera Ruddigore, D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, Savoy Theatre, 1887

Costume design by Wilhelm for an Ancestor in Ruddigore. Watercolour drawing of a man in late 17th century armour, standing in a landscape with trees to left. He wears plate armour of breastplate, arm guards and tassets over a deep blue coat, and black thigh boots with spurs, and has a light brown periwig, a lace jabot and a white sash fringed in gold. He holds a truncheon in his right hand and rests his left hand on a plumed helmet. The date of the costume was inscribed in ink in the upper left hand corner, but most of the corner is now missing and the details are lost. Costume details are written at the left hand side, running from the upper left hand corner to lower left. Signed.

Given by Dame Bridget D'Oyly Carte

Costume design by Wilhelm (William John Charles Pitcher) for an Ancestor, late 17th century, in the first production of Gilbert and Sullivan's opera Ruddigore, D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, Savoy Theatre, 1887.

S.147-2018