Print Collection
Print
ca. 1850 (published)
ca. 1850 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The African American actor Ira Aldridge (1807-1867) was born in New York where he was involved as a student with the African Theatre. He made his first London appearance in the East End, in May 1825 at the Royalty Theatre, Whitechapel, as Othello. In October 1825 he played the enslaved West African Prince Oroonoko at the Coburg Theatre, billed as 'Mr. Keene'. By April 1833 he starred at Covent Garden as Othello, and a month later was at the Pavilion, billed as 'the African Roscius', playing Othello in mid-May, and two weeks later the vengeful Moorish Prince Zanga in Alonzo of Castile, a version of Young's play The Revenge. Aldridge's versatile repertoire encompassed comic and tragic parts, and white roles including Shylock and Macbeth. A good singer, he even accompanied himself on the guitar performing ballads and minstrel songs, some made famous by his contemporary T.D. Rice (1808-1860).
Ira Aldridge found fame in Europe as well as Great Britain. He made several continental tours and died on a tour in Lódz, Poland, where he is buried in the Evangelical cemetery.
Ira Aldridge found fame in Europe as well as Great Britain. He made several continental tours and died on a tour in Lódz, Poland, where he is buried in the Evangelical cemetery.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Print Collection (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Engraving |
| Brief description | Ira Aldridge as Aaron in Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus |
| Physical description | Engraving of Ira Aldridge as Aaron in Titus Andronicus depicting him wearing a belted tunic with an animal skin cloak, a turban and cross gartered sandals. He is standing in front of a classical urn and pillar, probably on a balustrade, holding his scimitar in his right hand, his left foot on the swaddling clothes of his dead child. The image is set within a decorated frame, with the quotation from the play below: 'He dies upon my scimitar's sharp point / That touches this my first-born son and heir! TITUS ANDRONICUS Act 4, Sc.2' |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Gabrielle Enthoven Collection |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The African American actor Ira Aldridge (1807-1867) was born in New York where he was involved as a student with the African Theatre. He made his first London appearance in the East End, in May 1825 at the Royalty Theatre, Whitechapel, as Othello. In October 1825 he played the enslaved West African Prince Oroonoko at the Coburg Theatre, billed as 'Mr. Keene'. By April 1833 he starred at Covent Garden as Othello, and a month later was at the Pavilion, billed as 'the African Roscius', playing Othello in mid-May, and two weeks later the vengeful Moorish Prince Zanga in Alonzo of Castile, a version of Young's play The Revenge. Aldridge's versatile repertoire encompassed comic and tragic parts, and white roles including Shylock and Macbeth. A good singer, he even accompanied himself on the guitar performing ballads and minstrel songs, some made famous by his contemporary T.D. Rice (1808-1860). Ira Aldridge found fame in Europe as well as Great Britain. He made several continental tours and died on a tour in Lódz, Poland, where he is buried in the Evangelical cemetery. |
| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.6453-2009 |
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| Record created | February 27, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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