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 1871 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This photograph depicts Henry Irving as Mathias in the play The Bells, performed at the Lyceum Theatre.
About this work
This photo shows Henry Irving playing Mathias in *The Bells* at the Lyceum Theatre. Taken in 1871 by the London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company, it was printed on card for fans to collect.
The card is an albumen print from a glass negative, a common way to make portraits back then. You’d see these in albums next to family photos or travel scenes.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This photograph depicts Henry Irving as Mathias in the play The Bells, performed at the Lyceum Theatre. It is an albumen print from a glass negative, taken by the London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company in 1871.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a moment from a theatrical performance, with Henry Irving in character as Mathias. The play, The Bells, was a significant work, and Irving's portrayal was likely of interest to fans and collectors.
Technique & Style
The photograph is an example of a 'cabinet card', a format that gained popularity in the late 1870s, although this particular image was produced earlier, in 1871, as a 'carte de visite'. It features a printed image on card backing, a common method for portrait photography at the time.
History & Provenance
The photograph was collected by Guy Tristram Little, a solicitor and collector of photographs, greetings cards, and games. Little bequeathed his collection, including this image, to the Victoria and Albert Museum after his death in 1953.
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.
