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Guy Little Theatrical Photograph

London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company

1882

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a 1882 photographic by London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company
When & what style?: 1882 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This 1882 photograph shows Fanny Stirling playing the Nurse in *Romeo and Juliet* at London’s Lyceum Theatre. It’s one of many theatrical portraits made for fans to collect. Victorian actors posed for two popular photo types: small “cartes de visite” and larger “cabinet cards.” Both used stiff paper backs printed with the photographer’s name. Check out more theater photos at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The story of this work

Overview

A sepia photograph from 1882 depicts Fanny Stirling in the role of the Nurse in *Romeo and Juliet* at the Lyceum Theatre. Produced by the London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company as an albumen print on card, the image belongs to a collection of theatrical portraits assembled by Guy Tristram Little and later donated to the Victoria and Albert Museum. The photograph reflects the Victorian practice of issuing actor portraits as collectible cartes de visite or cabinet cards, with this example mounted in an album after removal from its original backing.

Read the full account in the museum source.