Artwork
Miss Love as Norah in The Poor Soldier
Miss Love as Norah in The Poor Soldier is a print by J. Kennerley. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This London‑produced print presents Miss Emma Sarah Love in costume as Norah, a character from the popular early‑19th‑century comic opera The Poor Soldier. The image was issued by the publisher Duncombe and is now part of the Harry Beard Collection.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures Love in the role of Norah, highlighting the theatrical fashion and stage persona associated with the opera’s Irish heroine. By depicting a recognizable performer, the print served both as a souvenir for theatre‑goers and as a promotional image for the production.
Technique & Style
Executed as a printed illustration, the work employs line engraving and tonal shading typical of early 1900s commercial prints. The composition centers the actress in full costume, with attention to the details of her dress and accessories, reflecting the period’s taste for realistic yet stylised portraiture.
History & Provenance
Issued in London during the first decades of the twentieth century, the print was distributed by Duncombe, a known publisher of theatrical ephemera. It later entered the Harry Beard Collection, a private assemblage of performance‑related prints, and is now catalogued by the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Artist & collection
Artist
J. Kennerley made early-19th-century theatre prints, small black-and-white images sold to fans who wanted a likeness of their favorite actors. Look for Miss Love as Zanina and Miss Love as Norah in The Poor Soldier—both…
