Artwork
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The image is a studio portrait of Arthur Roberts in his role as Gentleman Joe, taken for promotional distribution during the run of the eponymous production at the Prince of Wales Theatre. It exemplifies the Victorian practice of issuing photographic likenesses of theatrical performers for public collection and sale.
Subject & Meaning
Roberts appears in full costume, wearing an elaborate frock coat and a tall hat that identify him as the titular gentleman. The portrait serves both as a visual record of a specific stage character and as a means of familiarising audiences with the actor’s appearance, reinforcing the connection between performer and role.
Technique & Style
The picture is an albumen print produced from a glass negative, a standard method for mid‑19th‑century cartes de visite and cabinet cards. The image was originally mounted on a stiff card bearing the photographer’s imprint, then later removed and re‑mounted in a bound album.
History & Provenance
The photograph formed part of a larger assemblage of theatrical cartes de visite and cabinet cards collected by solicitor Guy Tristram Little (d. 1953). Little, a partner at Milles Jennings White & Foster and executor of Gabrielle Enthoven’s estate, donated the album to the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it now resides within the Theatre Collections.
Artist & collection
