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Guy Little Theatrical Photographs

Window & Grove

1881

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Guy Little Theatrical Photographs is a 1881 photographic by Window & Grove, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Window & Grove
When & what style?: 1881 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This is a photograph from the Guy Little collection. It was taken in 1881 by Window & Grove, a studio known for theatrical portraits. Most actors in that era posed for these small photos, called “cartes de visite.” They printed them on cardstock and sold them to fans. Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more of these Victorian celebrity photos.

The story of this work

Overview

A sepia photograph by Window & Grove from 1881 depicts Ellen Terry in her role as Camma in *The Cup* at the Lyceum Theatre. This image is part of a larger collection of 19th-century theatrical photographs assembled by Guy Tristram Little, which were later donated to the Victoria and Albert Museum. The photograph was originally produced as an albumen print on card backing, a common format for cartes de visite and cabinet cards of the era. The collection reflects the Victorian practice of collecting actor portraits alongside other subjects such as scenic views and works of art.

Read the full account in the museum source.