Artwork
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a photographic photography by Alfred Ellis. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This 19th-century photograph depicts George Grossmith, a Victorian theater actor, in a non-theatrical setting, captured by photographer Alfred Ellis. The image provides a glimpse into the offstage appearance of a prominent theatrical figure of the time.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, George Grossmith, was a notable actor of the Victorian era. The photograph, not depicting him in a theatrical role, offers insight into the everyday persona of a stage celebrity during a period when photography was novel.
Technique & Style
The photograph is an albumen print from a glass negative, mounted on stiff card backing, characteristic of 'cartes de visite'—a popular format for portrait photography in the mid-to-late 19th century.
History & Provenance
Originally part of a 'cartes de visite' collection, this photograph was later removed from its backing and mounted in an album by collector Guy Tristram Little, who bequeathed his collection to the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A).
Artist & collection
Artist
Alfred Ellis spent most of his career in a cramped studio above a London tailor’s shop, the smell of wool clinging to his camera lenses.
