Who painted Guy Little Theatrical Photograph?

Guy Little Theatrical Photograph was painted by Ellis & Walery in 1888.

Where can I see Guy Little Theatrical Photograph?

Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Guy Little Theatrical Photograph?

Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Guy Little Theatrical Photograph

Ellis & Walery , 1888

Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist Ellis & Walery. It dates from 1888 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The image is a portrait photograph of Mrs.

About this work

Overview

The image is a portrait photograph of Mrs. Langtry, taken in the Victorian era when photographic portraiture was becoming widely popular. It is presented as a small-format print, typical of the period’s collectible portrait cards.

Subject & Meaning

Mrs. Langtry, a figure associated with the theatrical world, is depicted in a pose that reflects the conventions of stage portraiture, offering a glimpse into the visual culture surrounding actors and actresses of the time.

Technique & Style

The picture is an albumen print produced from a glass negative, a standard method for both cartes de visite and later cabinet cards. The print is mounted on a stiff card that originally bore the photographer’s name, illustrating the commercial format of 19th‑century portrait photography.

History & Provenance

The photograph originated as part of a larger assemblage of cartes de visite and cabinet cards. These were later removed from their original backs and bound into albums by Guy Tristram Little (d. 1953), a solicitor and collector who donated the collection to the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Context

During the 1860s, cartes de visite—small visiting‑card sized portraits—were produced in massive numbers and collected as social tokens. By the late 1870s they were largely replaced by larger cabinet cards, which themselves fell out of favor in the 1890s as postcards and studio portraits became dominant.

Artist & collection

Artist

Ellis & Walery

Ellis & Walery were the go-to photographers for London’s theatre crowd in the late 1800s, printing poses of actors mid-scowl or mid-song on cabinet cards you could buy at the stage door.