Isobel Elsom as Kitty Fane in The Painted Veil
Caricature
17 October 1932 (dated)
17 October 1932 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature shows Isobel Elsom (1893-1981) as Kitty Fane in The Painted Veil at the Brighton Theatre Royal on 17 October 1932. 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.
Isobel Elsom was a well-established actress by 1932 when she was touring in The Painted Veil, an adaptation of a Somerset Maugham story about an adulterous wife in colonial Asia. Isobel Elsom made her first stage appearance in London in 1911 at the Adelphi Theatre in The Quaker Girl and in 1914 took over Gladys Cooper's roles in My Lady's Dress. She started her film career in 1921 and appeared in silent films, 'talkies' and a host of plays in the West End, in the regions and abroad. The Painted Veil was made into a film in 1934, starring Greta Garbo.
Isobel Elsom was a well-established actress by 1932 when she was touring in The Painted Veil, an adaptation of a Somerset Maugham story about an adulterous wife in colonial Asia. Isobel Elsom made her first stage appearance in London in 1911 at the Adelphi Theatre in The Quaker Girl and in 1914 took over Gladys Cooper's roles in My Lady's Dress. She started her film career in 1921 and appeared in silent films, 'talkies' and a host of plays in the West End, in the regions and abroad. The Painted Veil was made into a film in 1934, starring Greta Garbo.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Isobel Elsom as Kitty Fane in <i>The Painted Veil</i> (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil and ink on paper |
| Brief description | Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad of Isobel Elsom as Kitty Fane in The Painted Veil at the Brighton Theatre Royal, 17 October 1932. |
| Physical description | Pencil caricature of Isobel Elsom as Kitty Fane in The Painted Veil at the Brighton Theatre Royal. Dated 17 October 1932. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Michael Sommerlad |
| Object history | The Painted Veil by Bartlett Cormack, from the novel by Somerset Maugham, opened at the Theatre Royal Brighton on 17 October 1932. Gilbert Sommerlad was a member of the resident orchestra at the Theatre Royal Brighton when he drew this caricature. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Literary reference | <font -u>The Painted Veil</font> by Bartlett Cormack, from the novel by Somerset Maugham |
| Summary | This caricature shows Isobel Elsom (1893-1981) as Kitty Fane in The Painted Veil at the Brighton Theatre Royal on 17 October 1932. 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. Isobel Elsom was a well-established actress by 1932 when she was touring in The Painted Veil, an adaptation of a Somerset Maugham story about an adulterous wife in colonial Asia. Isobel Elsom made her first stage appearance in London in 1911 at the Adelphi Theatre in The Quaker Girl and in 1914 took over Gladys Cooper's roles in My Lady's Dress. She started her film career in 1921 and appeared in silent films, 'talkies' and a host of plays in the West End, in the regions and abroad. The Painted Veil was made into a film in 1934, starring Greta Garbo. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.131:19-2002 |
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| Record created | December 2, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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