Artwork
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist Clarkington & Co.. It dates from 1869 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This 1869 photograph is a small albumen print mounted on card, depicting Miss Marston in a studio setting.
About this work
This 1869 photo shows Miss Marston in a quiet studio shot. It’s a small albumen print pasted on card—typical of “cartes de visite,” the trendy calling-card photos of the day.
People then loved collecting these tiny portraits. Actresses like Miss Marston sold stacks of them to fans. The trend lasted until bigger “cabinet cards” took over in the late 1870s.
Look up Clarkington & Co.
Overview
This 1869 photograph is a small albumen print mounted on card, depicting Miss Marston in a studio setting.
Technique & Style
The image is characteristic of 'cartes de visite', a popular format for photographic portraits during the Victorian era, typically featuring subjects in everyday or theatrical attire.
History & Provenance
The photograph was collected by Guy Tristram Little, a solicitor and collector, who bequeathed it to the V&A as part of a large collection of 'cartes de visite' and 'cabinet cards'.
Context
'Cartes de visite' were a fashionable phenomenon in the 1860s, with millions produced, often featuring portraits of actors and actresses, and were later superseded by 'cabinet cards' in the late 1870s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Clarkington & Co. made black-and-white photographs of actors and theater scenes in the late 1800s. They left behind two portraits of Guy Little, an English actor, taken in 1869 and during the 19th century. These…
