Artwork
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist Samuel Alex Walker. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This photograph shows Phyllis Broughton as Cicely in the play *Marjorie*. It was shot in 1889 by Samuel Alex Walker, an artist linked both to Impressionism and Realism.
Walker used the era’s common albumen print method. Actors often posed in costume for these small cards meant to sell to fans.
Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum for more of these Victorian theatrical photos.
Overview
The image captures actress Phyllis Broughton in the role of Cicely from the 1889 production of *Marjorie* at London’s Prince of Wales Theatre. Produced by photographer Samuel Alex Walker, the picture is an albumen print typical of late‑Victorian theatrical portraiture, intended for distribution among admirers of the stage.
Subject & Meaning
Broughton is shown in full costume, embodying the character of Cicely with the elaborate dress and props that defined the part. Such portraits served both as promotional material for the play and as personal memorabilia for theatre‑goers, offering a visual record of performance aesthetics and star personas of the era.
Technique & Style
Walker employed the albumen printing process, printing a silver‑gelatin image onto paper coated with egg white, then mounting it on a stiff card. The resulting photograph exhibits the fine tonal range and crisp detail prized in Victorian portraiture, balancing realistic rendering of costume with a slightly softened, almost painterly atmosphere.
History & Provenance
The card originated as part of a set of cartes de visite and later cabinet cards, formats popular for collecting celebrity likenesses. In the mid‑20th century, solicitor Guy Tristram Little removed the cards from their original backs, mounted them in albums, and bequeathed the collection to the Victoria and Albert Museum, linking the image to the museum’s Theatre Collections.
Context
During the 1860s‑1890s, photographic visiting cards became a fashionable pastime, allowing the public to exchange images of notable figures, landscapes, and artworks. Theatrical cards like this one reflected the growing intersection of photography and popular culture, providing a portable, affordable means for audiences to engage with the world of the stage.
Artist & collection
Artist
Samuel Walker spent his days tucked in the back rows of London theaters, not on stage but with a camera.
