Chocolate & Company, The Rastelli Clowns, appearing as a speciality act in the pantomime Robinson Crusoe, Bristol Hippodrome, 1969.
2001
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
2001
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Chocolate & Company, The Rastelli Clowns, appearing as a speciality act in the pantomime Robinson Crusoe, Bristol Hippodrome, 1969. is a 2001 paint by Mary Hardy Grierson, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
Four clowns are mid-jump in the air, playing instruments like they’re dancing. Bright colors—reds, yellows, blues—stand out against a pale, sketchy background. Their faces are painted with big smiles, and one wears a tall, striped hat while another has a red nose. This painting was made to celebrate a clown troupe performing in a 1969 show. The artist captured their energy with loose, quick brushstrokes. Next, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more playful art like this.
The painting depicts four Rastelli Musical Clowns performing on stage, rendered in pen and watercolour against a lightly painted landscape background with clouds and trees. Alfredo Rastelli plays the accordion on the far left, followed by Chocolat on the clarinet, Toni Poletti in whiteface with a conical hat playing the saxophone, and Oreste Rastelli on the far right playing the guitar. The work was created by Mary Hardy Grierson in 1969, based on sketches made backstage at the Bristol Hippodrome during a performance of the pantomime *Robinson Crusoe*.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Mary Hardy Grierson spent weekends sketching backstage at Bristol’s Hippodrome while working the ticket booth.
See the richer artist page
