Artwork
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a photographic photography by William Notman. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This late 19th-century photograph depicts Miss Lotta, also known as Carlotta Crabtree, an actress of the time.
About this work
Overview
This late 19th-century photograph depicts Miss Lotta, also known as Carlotta Crabtree, an actress of the time.
Subject & Meaning
The image is a representation of Miss Lotta in a theatrical context, likely in costume, reflecting the practice of actors commissioning studio photographs for promotional purposes.
Technique & Style
The photograph is an albumen print, a common technique for photographic prints during the Victorian era, mounted on card, characteristic of 'cabinet cards', a format that gained popularity in the late 1870s.
History & Provenance
The photograph was part of a large collection assembled by Guy Tristram Little, a collector and solicitor, who bequeathed it to the Victoria and Albert Museum upon his death in 1953.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Notman ran a photography studio in Montreal so busy it had its own house organ, a monthly bulletin of customers’ portraits, proof he treated clients like regulars at a diner.
