Artwork
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company. It dates from 1879 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This photo freezes Marie Litton on stage in 1879. She plays Miss Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer. The picture is a cabinet card, so it’s bigger than the earlier visiting-card photos of actors.
The London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company made this shot. Victorian fans loved collecting these actor cards to paste in albums.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more.
Overview
This cabinet card photograph, produced in 1879 by the London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company, captures Marie Litton in her role as Miss Hardcastle in the play She Stoops to Conquer. Larger and more durable than its predecessor, the carte de visite, the cabinet card format reflects the evolving technology and consumer preferences of late Victorian photography.
Subject & Meaning
The photograph depicts Marie Litton embodying the character of Miss Hardcastle from Oliver Goldsmith's play, freezing a moment from the 1879 theatrical production at the Imperial Theatre. The image served as a collectible representation of both the actress and her role, catering to the Victorian public's interest in theatre and celebrity culture.
Technique & Style
Technically, the photograph is an albumen print from a glass negative, mounted on stiff card backing with the photographer's imprint. Stylistically, it adheres to the conventional portrait approach of theatrical photography during the era, focusing on the subject's costume and pose to convey character.
History & Provenance
Originally part of a collection of theatrical cartes de visite and cabinet cards, this photograph was later removed from its backing, mounted in an album, and bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum by Guy Tristram Little, a collector and solicitor, as part of his extensive photographic and theatrical holdings.
Context
Emerging during a period when photography was becoming increasingly accessible and popular, this cabinet card reflects the Victorian era's fascination with both technology and the theatre. It was part of a broader collecting craze for such images, which were often albumed by enthusiasts.
Legacy
As part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection, the photograph contributes to the historical record of late 19th-century theatre practices and the development of photographic technology. It also highlights the role of collectors like Guy Tristram Little in preserving theatrical and photographic heritage.
Artist & collection
Artist
London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company
They snapped portraits for London’s theater crowd in the 1800s, turning actors and dancers into instant celebrities.
