Artwork
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a photographic photography by Charlotte 'Lallie' Charles. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This is a photograph of Mrs.
About this work
Overview
This is a photograph of Mrs. Brown Potter, an actress active during the late 19th or early 20th century.
Subject & Meaning
The photograph is a theatrical portrait, likely created for fans and collectors of the time. It captures Mrs. Brown Potter, presenting her in a role or character.
Technique & Style
The image is an albumen print, a photographic process involving glass negatives, mounted on card. This technique was characteristic of 'cartes de visite' and 'cabinet cards', popular formats for portrait photography during the Victorian era.
History & Provenance
The photograph was part of a collection assembled by Guy Tristram Little, a collector and solicitor who bequeathed his photographs to the V&A. Little's collection included 'cartes de visite' and 'cabinet cards', from which the backing cards had been removed and the prints mounted in albums.
Artist & collection
Artist
These late-1800s photos and prints capture theatre backstage: actors in costume, props on tables, the chipped paint and gas lamps of the stage door.
