Not on display

Richard Todd in Dear Octopus

Caricature
3 November 1967 (dated)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This caricature shows Richard Todd (b.1919) in Dear Octopus at the Oxford New Theatre in November 1967. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleRichard Todd in <i>Dear Octopus</i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and wash on paper
Brief description
Pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and wash caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Richard Todd in Dear Octopus at the Oxford New Theatre. Dated 3 November 1967.
Physical description
Pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and wash caricature of Richard Todd in Dear Octopus at the Oxford New Theatre. Dated 3 November 1967. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.2cm (approximately)
  • Width: 18.7cm (approximately)
Credit line
Given by Michael Sommerlad
Object history
This caricature comes from an album of caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn (with one exception) by Gilbert J.Sommerlad (1904-1976) between December 1965 and September 1971 at the Oxford New Theatre. Gilbert Sommerlad moved from Brighton to the recently built New Theatre, Oxford, to join his brother Roy (violin and clarinet) as resident pianist in 1936. He continued with his caricatures until his retirement.
Subject depicted
Summary
This caricature shows Richard Todd (b.1919) in Dear Octopus at the Oxford New Theatre in November 1967. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.
Collection
Accession number
S.134:14-2002

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Record createdNovember 18, 2003
Record URL
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