Richard Attenborough as Valentine Crisp in 'Sweet Madness'
Caricature
1 May 1952 (dated)
1 May 1952 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature shows Richard Attenborough (b.1923) as Valentine Crisp in Sweet Madness by Peter Jones, at the Oxford New Theatre in May 1952. 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.
Actor, director and producer Sir Richard Attenborough made his stage debut in 1941 and his first film, In Which We Serve, in 1942. He became well known in the 1960s for military roles in films, and directed epic films including A Bridge Too Far (1977) and Gandhi (1982).
Actor, director and producer Sir Richard Attenborough made his stage debut in 1941 and his first film, In Which We Serve, in 1942. He became well known in the 1960s for military roles in films, and directed epic films including A Bridge Too Far (1977) and Gandhi (1982).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Richard Attenborough as Valentine Crisp in '<i>Sweet Madness</i>' (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil, ink and watercolour on paper |
| Brief description | Pencil, ink and watercolour caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Richard Attenborough as Valentine Crisp in Sweet Madness at the Oxford New Theatre. Dated 1 May 1952. |
| Physical description | Pencil, ink and watercolour caricature of Richard Attenborough as Valentine Crisp in Sweet Madness by Peter Jones at the Oxford New Theatre, 1 May 1952. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad. |
| Credit line | Given by Michael Sommerlad |
| Object history | This caricature comes from an album of caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert J.Sommerlad (1904-1976) between December 1951 and October 1957 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 Attenborough (b.1923) as Valentine Crisp in Sweet Madness by Peter Jones, at the Oxford New Theatre in May 1952. 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. Actor, director and producer Sir Richard Attenborough made his stage debut in 1941 and his first film, In Which We Serve, in 1942. He became well known in the 1960s for military roles in films, and directed epic films including A Bridge Too Far (1977) and Gandhi (1982). |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.132:8-2002 |
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| Record created | November 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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