Not on display

Maggie Smith and Kenneth Williams in The Public Eye

Caricature
27/04/1962 (dated)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This caricature shows Maggie Smith (b.1934) and Kenneth Williams (1926-1988) in Peter Shaffer's play The Public Eye at the Oxford New Theatre on 27 April 1962. 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
TitleMaggie Smith and Kenneth Williams in <i>The Public Eye</i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil, pen and ink and wash on paper
Brief description
Pencil, pen and ink and wash caricature on paper by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Maggie Smith and Kenneth Williams in The Public Eye at the New Theatre Oxford. Dated 27 April 1962.
Physical description
Pencil, pen and ink and wash caricature of Maggie Smith and Kenneth Williams in The Public Eye at the New Theatre Oxford. Dated 27 April 1962. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25cm
  • Width: 17.6cm
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 October 1957 and October 1965 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
Summary
This caricature shows Maggie Smith (b.1934) and Kenneth Williams (1926-1988) in Peter Shaffer's play The Public Eye at the Oxford New Theatre on 27 April 1962. 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.
Associated object
S.2607-1994 (Object)
Collection
Accession number
S.133:37-2002

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Record createdDecember 9, 2003
Record URL
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