Artwork
Miss Tyrer as Dollalolla
Miss Tyrer as Dollalolla is a print by Anthony Cardon. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. A hand-colored print from the early 1800s portrays Sarah Tyrer, a stage performer, in the character of Dollalolla.
About this work
Overview
A hand-colored print from the early 1800s portrays Sarah Tyrer, a stage performer, in the character of Dollalolla. Produced as part of the Harry Beard Collection, the image captures a theatrical persona popular in British entertainment of the period. The print reflects the intersection of celebrity culture and print media in Regency-era Britain.
Subject & Meaning
Sarah Tyrer, later Mrs. Liston, was known for her comic roles on London’s stages. Here, she embodies Dollalolla, a whimsical, exaggerated character often used to satirize social pretensions. The portrayal blends personal identity with theatrical archetype, inviting viewers to recognize both the actress and the role she inhabited with wit and charm.
Technique & Style
The image is a hand-colored print, likely produced via etching or engraving, with delicate ink lines and applied watercolor to enhance facial features and costume details. The style is precise yet playful, emphasizing costume and expression over realism. Color choices highlight the character’s theatricality, aligning with popular print aesthetics of the time.
History & Provenance
The print entered the Harry Beard Collection, a significant assemblage of theatrical ephemera gathered in the 19th century. Beard’s holdings preserved rare images of performers and roles now otherwise lost. This piece survived as a tangible record of a fleeting stage persona, valued for its documentation of performance history rather than artistic novelty.
Context
During the early 19th century, theatrical prints were widely circulated among middle-class audiences, serving as both souvenirs and cultural commentary. Dollalolla, a stock comic figure, appeared in pantomimes and farces. Tyrer’s portrayal contributed to the character’s popularity, linking individual performers to broader theatrical trends of the era.
Legacy
Though the character of Dollalolla faded from stage repertoires, this print endures as evidence of how performers shaped public imagination through visual media. It remains a key artifact in understanding the visibility of actresses in Regency theater and the role of print in sustaining their public personas beyond the footlights.
Artist & collection
Artist
Anthony Cardon (1772–1813) was a Flemish engraver in chalk or stipple, who made his career in England and became noted for his engravings and book illustrations.
