Artwork
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist Sarony. It dates from 1880 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This photograph is from 1880.
It shows Edwin Booth as Richelieu.
The photo was made for a 'carte de visite' or 'cabinet card', which were popular collectibles.
People collected these cards to remember their favorite actors and actresses.
They were like trading cards, but with photos.
You can learn more about this type of photography by looking at the work of artist: Sarony.
Overview
The image is an 1880 photographic portrait of the American actor Edwin Booth in costume as Cardinal Richelieu, taken for the popular Victorian collectible formats known as cartes de visite and cabinet cards. The print is an albumen photograph, typical of the era, and was later removed from its original card backing and mounted in a bound album.
Subject & Meaning
Booth, celebrated for his Shakespearean roles, is depicted in the elaborate attire of Richelieu, a character from the historical drama performed at the Princess's Theatre. The portrait captures both his theatrical persona and the 19th‑century fascination with celebrity likenesses as objects of personal admiration.
Technique & Style
Created from a glass negative, the photograph employs the albumen process, which yields a glossy surface and fine detail. The image was originally printed on thin paper and affixed to a stiff card, a standard practice for cartes de visite and later cabinet cards, allowing for easy exchange among collectors.
History & Provenance
The card formed part of a larger assemblage of theatrical cartes de visite and cabinet cards that were stripped from their backs and compiled by solicitor Guy Tristram Little (d. 1953). Little, an avid collector of ephemera, bequeathed the album to the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it now resides within the Theatre Collections.
Context
During the mid‑to‑late 19th century, photographic portrait cards became fashionable souvenirs, enabling admirers to collect images of actors, scenic views, and artworks. Their popularity peaked in the 1860s and waned by the 1890s as postcards and studio portraiture took precedence.
Artist & collection
Artist
Napoléon Sarony was a Canadian-born American lithographer and photographer. He was a highly popular portrait photographer, best known for his portraits of the stars of late-19th-century American theater. His son, Otto…
