Who painted Strolling Players?

Strolling Players was painted by Johnston Forbes-Robertson in 1892.

Where can I see Strolling Players?

Strolling Players is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Strolling Players?

Strolling Players is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Strolling Players?

Museum-quality prints of Strolling Players are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Strolling Players

Johnston Forbes-Robertson , 1892

Strolling Players is a drawing by the Impressionist artist Johnston Forbes-Robertson. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Eric Forbes‑Robertson’s 1892 pencil drawing, titled Strolling Players, captures a small group of five young men in Elizabethan dress gathered beneath a tree. One figure reads aloud from a script while the others rest, set against a faintly rendered walled town in the distance. The work bears the artist’s ink signature, date and the inscription ‘Pont Aven 1892’.

Subject & Meaning

The scene presents a moment of theatrical rehearsal or informal performance, emphasizing camaraderie and the playful revival of historic costume. The central figure’s script reading suggests a shared cultural or literary activity, while the relaxed posture of the others conveys a leisurely, perhaps itinerant, troupe.

Technique & Style

Executed in quick, sketchy pencil lines, the drawing relies on light shading and occasional cross‑hatching to suggest form and volume. The loose handling creates a sense of immediacy, as if the artist captured a fleeting encounter rather than producing a finished composition.

History & Provenance

Signed and dated in ink by Forbes‑Robertson, the piece references the artist’s stay in Pont‑Aven, a French artists’ colony known for its informal drawing practices. The work has remained attributed to the artist since its creation, with no recorded changes in ownership.

Context

Created during the late 19th‑century revival of historic costume and amateur theatre, the drawing reflects contemporary interest in Elizabethan aesthetics. Its informal execution aligns with the plein‑air sketching habits of artists working in Pont‑Aven at the time.