Winifred Atwell and her pianos
Caricature
15 November 1963 (dated)
15 November 1963 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature shows Winifred Atwell (1914-1983) in a variety programme with Edmund Hockridge, November 1963. 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.
Winifred Atwell, the versatile pianist of 1950s stage and television fame, played the piano as a child but didn't leave her native Trinidad to study as a concert pianist until she was 30. Ragtime playing in London clubs got her a record contract and by 1951 she was dubbed 'The Queen of the Keyboard'.
Winifred Atwell, the versatile pianist of 1950s stage and television fame, played the piano as a child but didn't leave her native Trinidad to study as a concert pianist until she was 30. Ragtime playing in London clubs got her a record contract and by 1951 she was dubbed 'The Queen of the Keyboard'.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Winifred Atwell and her pianos (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil, pen and ink and wash on paper |
| Brief description | Pencil, pen and ink and wash caricature on paper of Winifred Atwell and her piano at the New Theatre Oxford, by Gilbert Sommerlad, 21 November 1963. |
| Physical description | Pencil, pen and ink and wash caricature of Winifred Atwell and her pianos at the New Theatre Oxford. Dated 21 November 1963. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad. |
| Dimensions |
|
| 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. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This caricature shows Winifred Atwell (1914-1983) in a variety programme with Edmund Hockridge, November 1963. 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. Winifred Atwell, the versatile pianist of 1950s stage and television fame, played the piano as a child but didn't leave her native Trinidad to study as a concert pianist until she was 30. Ragtime playing in London clubs got her a record contract and by 1951 she was dubbed 'The Queen of the Keyboard'. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.133:53-2002 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | December 10, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
