Cartoon
1899 (drawn), 11 January 1905 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This cartoon by Thomas Downey, artist, illustrator and cartoonist, appears to have been executed for a contemporary magazine, possibly for a column entitled 'July Theatricals'. Harold Kyrle Bellew (1855-1911) is drawn as Olivier, the son of Robespierre, played in this production by Henry Irving. The play was a translation by Laurence Irving of the original French play written expressly for Irving by Victorien Sardou.
Harold Kyrle Bellew (1855-1911) was an English actor born in Lancashire, who made his first appearance on the stage in Australia in 1874 but acted with Irving at the Lyceum from 1878 to 1880, Irving's earliest seasons at the Lyceum. He spent much of his later career in America, where he died, but was with Irving in 1899 for Robespierre at the Lyceum and the subsequent tour. He made a reputation as the most handsome man on the contemporary stage, and a critic in Harper's Weekly once wrote of Bellew, 'He poses and struts, yet one has to confess that his poses are graceful, and his struttings recall a pleasurable memory of days gone by.'
Harold Kyrle Bellew (1855-1911) was an English actor born in Lancashire, who made his first appearance on the stage in Australia in 1874 but acted with Irving at the Lyceum from 1878 to 1880, Irving's earliest seasons at the Lyceum. He spent much of his later career in America, where he died, but was with Irving in 1899 for Robespierre at the Lyceum and the subsequent tour. He made a reputation as the most handsome man on the contemporary stage, and a critic in Harper's Weekly once wrote of Bellew, 'He poses and struts, yet one has to confess that his poses are graceful, and his struttings recall a pleasurable memory of days gone by.'
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and ink on drawing board |
| Brief description | Kyrle Bellew (1855-1911) as Olivier in Robespierre by Victorien Sardou, Lyceum Theatre 15 April 1899 and on tour. |
| Physical description | Pen and ink cartoon in black ink on drawing board showing Kyrle Bellew standing, arms folded, in his costume as Olivier consisting of a waist-length cutaway jacket with a wide white collar, a narrow black tie, a cummerbund and knee-length breeches. Behind him, sketched in lighter ink, are two French soldiers in uniform, holding pikestaffs. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Thos D. (Signature of Thomas Downey, in black ink.) |
| Credit line | Gabrielle Enthoven Collection |
| Subject depicted | |
| Association | |
| Summary | This cartoon by Thomas Downey, artist, illustrator and cartoonist, appears to have been executed for a contemporary magazine, possibly for a column entitled 'July Theatricals'. Harold Kyrle Bellew (1855-1911) is drawn as Olivier, the son of Robespierre, played in this production by Henry Irving. The play was a translation by Laurence Irving of the original French play written expressly for Irving by Victorien Sardou. Harold Kyrle Bellew (1855-1911) was an English actor born in Lancashire, who made his first appearance on the stage in Australia in 1874 but acted with Irving at the Lyceum from 1878 to 1880, Irving's earliest seasons at the Lyceum. He spent much of his later career in America, where he died, but was with Irving in 1899 for Robespierre at the Lyceum and the subsequent tour. He made a reputation as the most handsome man on the contemporary stage, and a critic in Harper's Weekly once wrote of Bellew, 'He poses and struts, yet one has to confess that his poses are graceful, and his struttings recall a pleasurable memory of days gone by.' |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.150-2008 |
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| Record created | June 2, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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