Guy Little Theatrical Photographs

The photograph is an albumen print from a glass negative, mounted on a stiff card backing with the photographer's name printed on it, characteristic of either 'cartes de visite' (small, patented in 1854) or 'cabinet cards' (larger, prevalent from the late 1870s).

Originally part of a large collection compiled by Guy Tristram Little (d.1953), a collector and solicitor, the photograph was bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) as part of Little's estate, contributing to the museum's theatrical archives.

Produced during a period when collecting theatrical portraits was a Victorian fad, this photograph represents a blend of emerging photographic technology (albumen prints from glass negatives) and the public's thirst for celebrity images.

As part of the V&A's collection, the photograph contributes to the historical record of Victorian theatrical culture and the evolution of portrait photography, accessible through the museum's resources.