Artwork
Guy Little Theatrical Photographs
Guy Little Theatrical Photographs is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist Samuel Alex Walker. It dates from 1881 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This 1881 photograph depicts Nellie Farren in the title role of Aladdin at the Gaiety Theatre, captured in theatrical costume.
About this work
This is a photograph from 1881 of Nellie Farren playing Aladdin on stage. The actor stands in costume for a famous Gaiety Theatre show.
Victorian actors often posed for small photos called *cartes de visite*. These were cheap and easy to collect, like early trading cards. Big studios like Walker’s used glass negatives to print them fast.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum next.
Overview
This 1881 photograph depicts Nellie Farren in the title role of Aladdin at the Gaiety Theatre, captured in theatrical costume. It is an example of a 'carte de visite', a popular format of portrait photography during the Victorian era.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Nellie Farren, is portrayed in character as Aladdin, highlighting the intersection of theatre and photography in Victorian culture. The image reflects the era's fascination with capturing performers in role.
Technique & Style
Produced using a glass negative, this albumen print on stiff card backing represents typical 'carte de visite' production methods. The format, patented in 1854, emphasized accessibility and mass producibility.
History & Provenance
Originally part of a collection assembled by Guy Tristram Little, a collector and solicitor, the photograph was later bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) as part of Little's estate in 1953.
Context
Emerging during a period when photography was a novel technology, 'cartes de visite' like this one became a fashionable collectible item in the 1860s, preceding the rise of 'cabinet cards' and later, postcards.
Legacy
As part of the V&A's Theatre Collections, founded in part through Guy Little's associations (notably with Mrs. Gabrielle Enthoven), this photograph contributes to the historical record of Victorian theatre and the evolution of photographic practices.
Artist & collection
Artist
Samuel Walker spent his days tucked in the back rows of London theaters, not on stage but with a camera.
