Artwork
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist Walery. It dates from 1887 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This photo shows Dame Marie Tempest as Dorothy in a 1887 play. Walery took it during a busy time for Victorian theater photos. These images helped fans remember actors long after shows closed.
Theaters used these to sell tickets and build star power. Cartes de visite were tiny calling cards that fans collected like trading cards.
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Overview
The image is a Victorian-era photograph depicting Dame Marie Tempest in the role of Dorothy from the 1887 production of *Dorothy* at the Prince of Wales Theatre. It is a studio portrait taken while the play was running, intended for distribution among theatre audiences and admirers of the actress.
Subject & Meaning
Tempest appears in full stage costume, embodying the youthful heroine of the popular comic opera. The portrait captures the theatrical persona rather than a candid moment, serving both as a visual record of her performance and as a promotional tool that reinforced her public image.
Technique & Style
The picture is an albumen print produced from a glass negative, typical of mid‑19th‑century photographic practice. It would originally have been mounted on a stiff card, either as a small ‘carte de visite’ or a larger ‘cabinet card’, with the photographer’s imprint printed on the backing.
History & Provenance
The photograph formed part of a larger assemblage of theatrical cartes de visite and cabinet cards collected by Guy Tristram Little (d. 1953). Little, a solicitor and avid collector of ephemera, removed the original card backs and mounted the images in albums, later bequeathing the collection to the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Context
During the Victorian period, photographic portraits of actors were widely circulated as collectible cards, allowing audiences to retain a likeness of favourite performers after a production closed. Such images were also used by theatres to advertise upcoming shows and to cultivate star appeal among the public.
Artist & collection
Artist
These black-and-white photographs preserve the gestures and costumes of 19th-century actors.
