Who painted Guy Little Theatrical Photograph?

Guy Little Theatrical Photograph was painted by Unknown in 1871.

Where can I see Guy Little Theatrical Photograph?

Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Guy Little Theatrical Photograph?

Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Guy Little Theatrical Photograph

Unknown , 1871

Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1871 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The image captures Henry Irving in costume as Jingle from the 1871 production of *Pickwick* at London’s Lyceum Theatre.

About this work

The photo was likely used as a 'carte de visite', a type of small photo card that was popular at the time, often used by actors to promote themselves.

This photograph shows Henry Irving dressed as Jingle in Pickwick.
It's a picture from the Lyceum Theatre in 1871.
The photo was likely used as a 'carte de visite', a type of small photo card that was popular at the time, often used by actors to promote themselves.

These cards were made from glass negatives and attached to stiff card backing.
The cards were a big deal in Victorian days, allowing people to collect photos of their favorite actors.

You can learn more about this type of photography at the museum: Victoria and Albert Museum.

Overview

The image captures Henry Irving in costume as Jingle from the 1871 production of *Pickwick* at London’s Lyceum Theatre. Presented as a small photographic card, the portrait exemplifies the Victorian practice of distributing actors’ likenesses through portable, collectible formats.

Subject & Meaning

Irving, one of the era’s pre‑eminent stage figures, is shown in full theatrical dress, embodying the character Jingle, a lively itinerant musician. The portrait served both as a personal souvenir for admirers and as promotional material, reinforcing the actor’s public persona.

Technique & Style

The picture is an albumen print produced from a glass negative, typical of mid‑nineteenth‑century photographic processes. After exposure, the image was adhered to a stiff card bearing the photographer’s imprint, creating the familiar ‘carte de visite’ format that measured roughly the size of a visiting card.

History & Provenance

Originally part of a larger set of cartes de visite and later cabinet cards, the card was removed from its backing and mounted in an album assembled by Guy Tristram Little (d. 1953). Little, a solicitor and collector, bequeathed the album to the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it now resides in the Theatre Collections.

Context

During the 1860s and 1870s, cartes de visite became a social craze, with millions produced for a range of subjects—from landscapes to theatrical portraits. Their popularity waned in the 1890s as larger cabinet cards and postcards supplanted them, yet they remain valuable records of Victorian visual culture.