Not on display

Ernest Thesiger as Polonius in Hamlet

Caricature
10 November 1955 (dated)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This caricature shows Ernest Thesiger (1879-1961) as Polonius in Hamlet at the Oxford New Theatre on 10 November 1955. 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
TitleErnest Thesiger as Polonius in <i>Hamlet</i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil, pen and ink and wash on paper
Brief description
Pencil, pen and ink and wash caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Ernest Thesiger as Polonius in Hamlet, New Theatre Oxford. Dated 10 November 1955.
Physical description
Pencil, pen and ink and wash caricature of Ernest Thesiger as Polonius in Hamlet, New Theatre Oxford. Dated 10 November 1955. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.2cm (Note: This is the height unmounted. Including the mount the height is 28cm.)
  • Width: 18.6cm (Note: This is the width unmounted. Including the mount the width is 20.5cm.)
This is in a bound book.
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.
Subjects depicted
Literary reference<i>Hamlet</i>
Summary
This caricature shows Ernest Thesiger (1879-1961) as Polonius in Hamlet at the Oxford New Theatre on 10 November 1955. 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.132:61-2002

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Record createdDecember 5, 2003
Record URL
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