Portrait of Richard Collet
Drawing
ca.1930 (drawn)
ca.1930 (drawn)
| Artist/Maker |
The bass-baritone and artist Fernando Autori (1886-1937) was born in Calatafini, Sicily, and despite wanting to become a painter, studied pharmacy at the University of Palermo before leaving to study singing in Palermo with Antonio Cantelli. He made his debut as an opera singer in 1908 at the Teatro Bellini in Naples and after the war first appeared at La Scala, Milan, in 1924. He made several successful guest appearances at Covent Garden and other European opera houses in the 1930s
During his operatic career in London Aurori met Rupert D'Oyly Carte, Director of the D'Oyly Carte Company from 1913 to 1948, whose portrait he drew along with those of conductors and personalities associated with the company. Several of Autori's portraits were commisioned to appear in the periodical The Tatler, including his portraits of theatre impresario Charles Cochran, the writer H.G. Wells and the politician Ramsay Macdonald.
In 1927 Carte appointed his opera company's general manager, Richard Collet (1885-1946) to run the cabaret at the Savoy, which began in April 1929. He became his business manager, working for the company until his death in 1946.
During his operatic career in London Aurori met Rupert D'Oyly Carte, Director of the D'Oyly Carte Company from 1913 to 1948, whose portrait he drew along with those of conductors and personalities associated with the company. Several of Autori's portraits were commisioned to appear in the periodical The Tatler, including his portraits of theatre impresario Charles Cochran, the writer H.G. Wells and the politician Ramsay Macdonald.
In 1927 Carte appointed his opera company's general manager, Richard Collet (1885-1946) to run the cabaret at the Savoy, which began in April 1929. He became his business manager, working for the company until his death in 1946.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Portrait of Richard Collet (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Portrait of Richard Collet (1885-1946). Crayon on cartridge board by Fernando Autori (1886-1937), ca.1930 |
| Physical description | Portrait of Richard Collet, full-length, standing, looking to his left with his hands in his pockets |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Peter Parker |
| Object history | This drawing was inherited by Peter Parker, who bequeathed it to the museum, from his father Stanley Parker who was employed by the Savoy Hotel as a junior clerk in May 1909, straight from school. From that job, on the death of Helen D'Oyly Carte in 1913, he was picked by Rupert D'Oyly Carte to understudy Mr George A Richardson who managed the theatre from November 1911 to February 1915. In 1913 Stanley Parker became Rupert D'Oyly Carte's private scretary, and later Bridget D'Oyly Carte's private secretary, also secretary of both the Savoy Theatre Ltd., and the Opera Company. |
| Summary | The bass-baritone and artist Fernando Autori (1886-1937) was born in Calatafini, Sicily, and despite wanting to become a painter, studied pharmacy at the University of Palermo before leaving to study singing in Palermo with Antonio Cantelli. He made his debut as an opera singer in 1908 at the Teatro Bellini in Naples and after the war first appeared at La Scala, Milan, in 1924. He made several successful guest appearances at Covent Garden and other European opera houses in the 1930s During his operatic career in London Aurori met Rupert D'Oyly Carte, Director of the D'Oyly Carte Company from 1913 to 1948, whose portrait he drew along with those of conductors and personalities associated with the company. Several of Autori's portraits were commisioned to appear in the periodical The Tatler, including his portraits of theatre impresario Charles Cochran, the writer H.G. Wells and the politician Ramsay Macdonald. In 1927 Carte appointed his opera company's general manager, Richard Collet (1885-1946) to run the cabaret at the Savoy, which began in April 1929. He became his business manager, working for the company until his death in 1946. |
| Associated object | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.1041-2021 |
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| Record created | September 6, 2021 |
| Record URL |
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