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 1855 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The image is an 1855 photographic portrait of the actress Patty Chapman in costume as Louis XI at the Princess's Theatre.
About this work
Back then, many actors posed for small albumen prints called “cartes de visite.
This early photo shows actor Patty Chapman in a theatrical role.
It’s a rare snapshot from 1855, made when photography was brand new.
Back then, many actors posed for small albumen prints called “cartes de visite.”
This one was printed on stiff card with the studio’s name on the back.
These tiny portraits became hugely popular—people collected them like cards.
They were the Instagram of the 1860s, minus the filters.
Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
The image is an 1855 photographic portrait of the actress Patty Chapman in costume as Louis XI at the Princess's Theatre. Produced during the early years of Victorian photography, it exemplifies the small‑format albumen print mounted on a stiff card, a common method for distributing theatrical likenesses at the time.
Subject & Meaning
Chapman is depicted in full stage attire, embodying the historical figure of Louis XI. The portrait serves both as a record of her performance and as a promotional image, allowing audiences to recall the production and offering a tangible souvenir of a popular theatrical event.
Technique & Style
The photograph was created from a glass negative and printed on paper coated with albumen, then affixed to a card bearing the photographer’s imprint. This "carte de visite" format measured roughly the size of a visiting card and was prized for its clarity and the glossy finish achieved by the egg‑white binder.
History & Provenance
The print originated in a collection of cartes de visite and later cabinet cards that were removed from their original card backs and compiled into albums by Guy Tristram Little (d. 1953). Little, a solicitor and avid collector, bequeathed the assembled albums to the Victoria and Albert Museum, where they now form part of the museum’s theatre photography holdings.
Context
During the 1850s and 1860s, cartes de visite became a fashionable pastime, with millions produced for portraiture, scenic views, and artworks. Actors and actresses frequently posed in costume for these cards, which were exchanged socially much like modern collectible cards, reflecting the growing public appetite for visual culture in the Victorian era.
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.
