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 1870 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The image captures Mademoiselle Debreux in the role of Mephistopheles during a performance of Le Petit Faust at London’s Lyceum Theatre.
About this work
This is a late-1800s photo from a London studio. It shows an actress on stage in a devil costume for a play called Le Petit Faust.
Glass negatives made prints on stiff cards meant to be traded or saved in albums. The London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company took it in April 1870.
Look up the London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company.
Overview
The image captures Mademoiselle Debreux in the role of Mephistopheles during a performance of Le Petit Faust at London’s Lyceum Theatre. Produced in April 1870 by the London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company, the photograph is a studio‑derived portrait of the actress in full stage costume, typical of Victorian theatrical documentation.
Subject & Meaning
Debreux’s portrayal of the devilish Mephistopheles reflects the 19th‑century fascination with romanticized villainy on the Victorian stage. The costume’s dramatic elements—dark robes, horns, and a mischievous expression—serve both as a visual cue for the character and as a promotional image for the production, inviting audiences to the spectacle of Le Petit Faust.
Technique & Style
The picture is an albumen print made from a glass negative, a standard process for cartes de visite and cabinet cards of the era. The glossy surface and fine tonal range convey the theatrical lighting, while the stiff card backing, originally printed with the studio’s name, allowed the image to be collected, exchanged, or mounted in personal albums.
History & Provenance
Originally issued as part of a series of cartes de visite and later cabinet cards, the photograph was removed from its original mounting by collector Guy Tristram Little (d. 1953). Little, a solicitor and avid collector of photographic ephemera, assembled the images into albums that he bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum, where they now form part of the Theatre Collections.
Context
During the 1860s and 1870s, photographic portraiture became a popular means of documenting theatrical performers. Studios produced inexpensive cards that could be exchanged like visiting cards, helping actors promote their roles and allowing the public to own a likeness of their favourite stage personalities.
Legacy
The photograph exemplifies how Victorian photography intersected with theatre, preserving a fleeting performance for posterity. As part of the V&A’s collection, it offers scholars insight into period costume design, promotional practices, and the early commercial photography market that linked visual culture with the performing arts.
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.
