Not currently on display at the V&A

The Diving Bell; or, Neptune's Gift

Poster
1805 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Broadside poster or playbill, advertising The Diving Bell; or, Neptune's Gift, Astley's Amphitheatre, 19 August [1805], which is described as 'never performed, an entirely New Comic Pantomime interspersed with uncommon Mechanical Changes, Transformations, and scenic Metamorphoses'. The evening's entertainment will also include 'an entirely New Comic Ballet of Action', Venus Pilgrim; or, The Devise, and a spectacle, 'as now Performing in Paris' called The False Penitent; or, The Monk of Palluzi.

A writer in the journal, The Monthly Mirror, commented 'We have rarely witnessed, on any stage, a more interesting, novel, and skilful scene, than that which represents the descent of the diving bell.'





Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Diving Bell; or, Neptune's Gift (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Letterpress
Brief description
Broadside poster or playbill, advertising the pantomime The Diving Bell; or, Neptune's Gift, Astley's Amphitheatre, 19 August [1805]. Letterpress
Physical description
Broadside poster or playbill, advertising The Diving Bell; or, Neptune's Gift, Astley's, 19 August, billed as 'never performed, an entirely New Comic Pantomime interspersed with uncommon Mechanical Changes, Transformations, and scenic Metamorphoses'. The Diving Bell will be preceded by Venus Pilgrim; or, The Devise, 'an entirely New Comic Ballet of Action', performed for the 13th time, and followed by The False Penitent; or. The Monk of Palluzi, 'An entirely NEW SPECTACLE', also being performed for the 13th time. The bill lists the scenes of The Diving Bell, which include 'The Animated Forest' and 'Neptune & Amphitrite's PALACE'.

Dimensions
  • Height: 72cm
  • Width: 24.5cm (approx.)
Credit line
Gabrielle Enthoven Collection
Summary
Broadside poster or playbill, advertising The Diving Bell; or, Neptune's Gift, Astley's Amphitheatre, 19 August [1805], which is described as 'never performed, an entirely New Comic Pantomime interspersed with uncommon Mechanical Changes, Transformations, and scenic Metamorphoses'. The evening's entertainment will also include 'an entirely New Comic Ballet of Action', Venus Pilgrim; or, The Devise, and a spectacle, 'as now Performing in Paris' called The False Penitent; or, The Monk of Palluzi.

A writer in the journal, The Monthly Mirror, commented 'We have rarely witnessed, on any stage, a more interesting, novel, and skilful scene, than that which represents the descent of the diving bell.'



Collection
Accession number
S.506-2018

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Record createdSeptember 24, 2018
Record URL
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