Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
Photograph
February 1895 (photographed), 2000s (copied)
February 1895 (photographed), 2000s (copied)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Photograph of Dame Marie Tempest as Adele in An Artists Model at Daly's Theatre, 2nd February 1896, transferring to Daly's Theatre, 28th May 1895.
Photography was a novel and exciting development in Victorian days. Most actors and actresses had studio photographs taken, in everyday dress or theatrical costume, for ‘cartes de visite’, and later ‘cabinet cards’. Both were albumen prints made from glass negatives, attached to stiff card backing printed with the photographer’s name.
‘Cartes de visite’, the size of formal visiting cards, were patented in 1854 and produced in their millions during the 1860s when it became fashionable to collect them. Their subjects included scenic views, tourist attractions and works of art, as well as portraits. They were superseded in the late 1870s by the larger and sturdier ‘cabinet cards’ whose popularity waned in turn during the 1890s in favour of postcards and studio portraits.
This photograph comes from a large collection of ‘cartes de visite’ and ‘cabinet cards’ removed from their backings and mounted in albums by Guy Tristram Little (d.1953) who bequeathed them to the V&A. A collector of greetings cards, games and photographs, Guy Little was a partner in the legal firm Messrs Milles Jennings White & Foster, and the solicitor and executor of Mrs. Gabrielle Enthoven, whose theatrical collection formed the basis of the Theatre Collections at the V&A.
Photography was a novel and exciting development in Victorian days. Most actors and actresses had studio photographs taken, in everyday dress or theatrical costume, for ‘cartes de visite’, and later ‘cabinet cards’. Both were albumen prints made from glass negatives, attached to stiff card backing printed with the photographer’s name.
‘Cartes de visite’, the size of formal visiting cards, were patented in 1854 and produced in their millions during the 1860s when it became fashionable to collect them. Their subjects included scenic views, tourist attractions and works of art, as well as portraits. They were superseded in the late 1870s by the larger and sturdier ‘cabinet cards’ whose popularity waned in turn during the 1890s in favour of postcards and studio portraits.
This photograph comes from a large collection of ‘cartes de visite’ and ‘cabinet cards’ removed from their backings and mounted in albums by Guy Tristram Little (d.1953) who bequeathed them to the V&A. A collector of greetings cards, games and photographs, Guy Little was a partner in the legal firm Messrs Milles Jennings White & Foster, and the solicitor and executor of Mrs. Gabrielle Enthoven, whose theatrical collection formed the basis of the Theatre Collections at the V&A.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Guy Little Theatrical Photograph (named collection) |
| Materials and techniques | Sepia photograph on paper |
| Brief description | Photograph of Dame Marie Tempest as Adele in An Artist's Model at Daly's Theatre, February 1895, Guy Little Collection. |
| Physical description | Sepia photograph of Dame Marie Tempest as Adele in An Artists Model at Daly's Theatre. Facsimile |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Copy |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'Marie Tempest in "An Artists Model"' (Written in ink on mount of photograph.) |
| Object history | This is one of the outstanding collection of 19th century photographs owned by Guy Little presented to the museum in the early 20th century. |
| Production | Attribution note: Photographic copy of original 19th c. photograph. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Literary reference | An Artists Model |
| Summary | Photograph of Dame Marie Tempest as Adele in An Artists Model at Daly's Theatre, 2nd February 1896, transferring to Daly's Theatre, 28th May 1895. Photography was a novel and exciting development in Victorian days. Most actors and actresses had studio photographs taken, in everyday dress or theatrical costume, for ‘cartes de visite’, and later ‘cabinet cards’. Both were albumen prints made from glass negatives, attached to stiff card backing printed with the photographer’s name. ‘Cartes de visite’, the size of formal visiting cards, were patented in 1854 and produced in their millions during the 1860s when it became fashionable to collect them. Their subjects included scenic views, tourist attractions and works of art, as well as portraits. They were superseded in the late 1870s by the larger and sturdier ‘cabinet cards’ whose popularity waned in turn during the 1890s in favour of postcards and studio portraits. This photograph comes from a large collection of ‘cartes de visite’ and ‘cabinet cards’ removed from their backings and mounted in albums by Guy Tristram Little (d.1953) who bequeathed them to the V&A. A collector of greetings cards, games and photographs, Guy Little was a partner in the legal firm Messrs Milles Jennings White & Foster, and the solicitor and executor of Mrs. Gabrielle Enthoven, whose theatrical collection formed the basis of the Theatre Collections at the V&A. |
| Associated objects |
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| Other number | GLC XIV.i.5.4 - Guy Little album identification numbering |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.146:25-2007 |
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| Record created | May 11, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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