Not currently on display at the V&A
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
1897 (photographed)
Dupont, Aimeé (photographer)
New York (photographed)
Photograph of Herbert Beerbohm Tree as Daltaire in The Seats of the Mighty, Her Majesty's Theatre.
Photography was a novel and exciting development in Victorian days. Most actors and actresses had studio photographs taken, in everyday dress or theatrical costume, for 'cartes de visite', and later 'cabinet cards'. Both were albumen prints made from glass negatives, attached to stiff card backing printed with the photographer's name.
'Cartes de visite', the size of formal visiting cards, were patented in 1854 and produced in their millions during the 1860s when it became fashionable to collect them. Their subjects included scenic views, tourist attractions and works of art, as well as portraits. They were superseded in the late 1870s by the larger and sturdier 'cabinet cards' whose popularity waned in turn during the 1890s in favour of postcards and studio portraits.
This photograph comes from a large collection of 'cartes de visite' and 'cabinet cards' removed from their backings and mounted in albums by Guy Tristram Little (d.1953) who bequeathed them to the V&A. A collector of greetings cards, games and photographs, Guy Little was a partner in the legal firm Messrs Milles Jennings White & Foster, and the solicitor and executor of Mrs. Gabrielle Enthoven, whose theatrical collection formed the basis of the Theatre Collections at the V&A.
Sepia photograph on paper
Photograph of Herbert Beerbohm Tree as Daltaire in The Seats of the Mighty, Her Majesty's Theatre, 1897, Guy Little Collection.
Sepia photograph of Herbert Beerbohm Tree as Daltaire in The Seats of the Mighty, Her Majesty's Theatre.
'H Beerbohm Tree in / The Seats of the Mighty / Dupont - New York' (Written in pencil on back of photograph.)
This is one of the outstanding collection of 19th century photographs owned by Guy Little presented to the museum in the early 20th century.
Subject depicted
Literary Reference The Seats of the Mighty
GLC XIII.viii.7.2 - Guy Little album identification numbering
Theatre and Performance Collection
S.145:462-2007
record created May 5, 2009
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O229813/guy-little-theatrical-photograph-photograph-dupont-aimeé/