Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
1864
photographic
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1864
photographic
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a 1864 photographic by C. D. Fredericks, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This photo shows Adah Isaacs Menken in costume, shot in the 1860s. It’s a stiff card with her image pasted on—typical for that time. These “cartes de visite” were tiny photos people collected like trading cards. The photo itself is small—about the size of a calling card. It fits the real-life trend: actors sent out their faces to fans and critics. That tiny print helped Menken build her name fast. Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum for more early photography.
A sepia-toned photograph depicts Adah Isaacs Menken in character, produced as an albumen print from a glass negative. The image was originally mounted on a card backing as part of the popular carte de visite format, which was widely collected during the 1860s. This particular photograph is part of a larger collection of theatrical cartes de visite and cabinet cards assembled by Guy Tristram Little, later donated to the Victoria and Albert Museum. The collection reflects the Victorian practice of documenting performers through portable photographic portraits.
Read the full account in the museum source.
C. D. Fredericks shot crisp black-and-white portraits of actors in the 1860s. Their cabinet cards—small, collectible photographs—show performers in costume with painted backdrops. The “Guy Little Theatrical Photograph”…
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