Artwork
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a photographic photography by R. W. Thrupp. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Photography was a new development during this time, and many actors and actresses had their pictures taken for "cartes de visite" or "cabinet cards".
This photograph is titled Guy Little Theatrical Photograph. It's a work by R. W. Thrupp from the mid to late 19th century.
The subject of the photograph is Jenny Louise Hengler. Photography was a new development during this time, and many actors and actresses had their pictures taken for "cartes de visite" or "cabinet cards".
To learn more about the techniques used in photography during this era, look up the technique of albumen prints, but for now, check out the museum: Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This 19th-century photograph, titled Guy Little Theatrical Photograph, is a portrait of Jenny Louise Hengler. Created by R. W. Thrupp, it is part of a collection bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum by Guy Tristram Little.
Subject & Meaning
The photograph depicts Jenny Louise Hengler, an actress. During the Victorian era, actors and actresses commonly had studio photographs taken, often in costume, which served as a form of documentation and promotion.
Technique & Style
The photograph is likely an albumen print made from a glass negative, a common technique during the 19th century. It was originally mounted on card, a format known as 'carte de visite' or 'cabinet card', which were popular formats for photographic portraits.
History & Provenance
The photograph was collected by Guy Tristram Little, a solicitor and collector, who removed it from its original card backing and mounted it in an album. Little bequeathed his collection to the Victoria and Albert Museum upon his death in 1953.
Artist & collection
Artist
R.W. Thrupp spent his days lurking backstage at London theaters, squinting through his camera at actors mid-monologue. He didn’t care about their famous faces—he wanted the sweat on their foreheads and the scuff on…
