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 1886 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This photo shows Alice Atherton dressed as the clown Tommy in a play called *The Coming Clown*. Taken in 1886, it captures a moment from a popular burlesque show.
Atherton started performing as a child in the U.S. and became a star in England. She was known for her comedic singing and whistling as well as acting.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
The image is a studio portrait of Alice Atherton, an American-born performer, in the role of Tommy, the clown, from the 1886 burlesque production *The Coming Clown* at the Royalty Theatre. The photograph captures her in full costume, illustrating the theatrical fashion of late‑Victorian stage photography.
Subject & Meaning
Atherton, who began her career as a child entertainer in Cincinnati, was celebrated for her comic versatility—singing, whistling, and rapid character changes. In this picture she embodies the gender‑bending humor of the piece, presenting a male clown persona while retaining her distinctive expressive style.
Technique & Style
The portrait is an albumen print made from a glass negative, typical of Victorian photographic practice. The image is mounted on a stiff card bearing the photographer’s imprint, a format that evolved from the popular cartes de visite and later cabinet cards, offering a glossy surface and fine detail suited to theatrical costume study.
History & Provenance
Atherton married English comic Willie Edouin in 1873; together they toured with Coville burlesque companies before relocating to England in 1883. The couple’s joint productions, including *Dreams, or Fun in the Photograph Gallery*, highlighted her impersonation skills. The photograph entered the Victoria and Albert Museum collection as part of its holdings on 19th‑century theatrical photography.
Context
During the Victorian era, photographic portraits of performers served both promotional and souvenir purposes. Actors and actresses often posed in costume for cartes de visite, which collectors exchanged as a form of popular culture. Atherton’s portrait reflects this trend, documenting a specific role within the broader phenomenon of burlesque entertainment.
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.
