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Guy Little Theatrical Photograph

Elliot & Fry

1876

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a 1876 photographic by Elliot & Fry, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Elliot & Fry
When & what style?: 1876 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This photo from 1876 shows actress Lizzie Wilson. It’s a studio portrait meant for fans to collect, not just admire. Back then, photos like this were small “cartes de visite” pasted on cards. Elliot & Fry’s studio took thousands of these. They printed names on the back for easy swapping. Want to see more? Try the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The story of this work

Overview

The photograph depicts Lizzie Wilson, taken in 1876 by the London studio Elliot & Fry using the albumen print process on glass negatives, typical of Victorian theatrical portraiture. The image was produced as a carte de visite, a small albumen print mounted on card, a format popularized in the 1860s for collecting and exchanging portraits of actors and actresses. This particular print is part of a larger collection of cartes de visite and cabinet cards assembled by Guy Tristram Little, who later donated the albums to the Victoria and Albert Museum. The collection includes theatrical portraits…

Read the full account in the museum source.