Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
1850
photographic
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1850
photographic
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a 1850 photographic by Barrable, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This is a 19th-century photograph of actress Carlotta Patti. It was made by Barrable in a style common for actors then. Back then, photos like this were printed on card stock with the studio name. Victorian fans collected these small prints by the millions. Actors paid for sets in everyday clothes and costumes. By the 1870s, bigger “cabinet cards” replaced them. Next, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.
This albumen print depicts Carlotta Patti and was produced as a carte de visite, a small photographic portrait mounted on card, which became widely popular in the 1860s. The image was created from a glass negative and bears the photographer’s imprint on its backing, typical of the format used during the mid-19th century. It is part of a larger collection of theatrical photographs assembled by Guy Tristram Little, who donated the items to the Victoria and Albert Museum in the early 20th century.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Ever notice how old photos feel like they’re hiding a secret? That’s what Barrable seems to have loved most—capturing performers mid-magic, their faces lit just enough to hint at the show before the curtain opened. One…
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