Not on display

Print Collection

Print
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.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePrint 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
  • Height: 24.3cm
  • Width: 15.3cm
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
  • 1050 - PeoplePlay UK number
  • sch200210100673-007 - V&A image number
Collection
Accession number
S.6453-2009

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Record createdFebruary 27, 2009
Record URL
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