Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
1850
photographic
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1850
photographic
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a 1850 photographic by J. T. Wigney, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This photo shows actress Sara Mellon posing for the camera. Made in the 1800s, it’s one of many “cartes de visite” popular back then. These small portraits were cheap and easy to collect, like trading cards today. They were printed on stiff cards with the photographer’s name on the back. Check out more theater photos at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
This photograph by J. T. Wigney from around 1850 depicts actress Sara Mellon and is an albumen print on card, typical of Victorian "cartes de visite." Such small portrait cards, introduced in 1854, became widely popular in the 1860s before being replaced by larger "cabinet cards" in the late 1870s. The image is part of a collection assembled by Guy Tristram Little, a solicitor and collector who donated it to the Victoria and Albert Museum in the early 20th century. The albumen process, using glass negatives, was a common method for producing these portable and collectible photographs.
Read the full account in the museum source.
J.T. Wigney spent his days dodging portrait gigs at a Sydney theater, where he snapped candid shots of actors between shows. He set up a tripod in the wings and caught performers mid-laugh, mid-sigh, or mid-curse—faces…
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