Reproducing Fame: Printmakers and the 19th century stage

Fun exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery looking at the range of live entertainment in 19th century England and how prints were used to promote the performers.

The display looked at how the circulation of prints helped to fuel the celebrity of actors. They were either made from studio portraits or some artists specialised in sketching live shows from theatre boxes. The images capture not only the images of the performers but also their costumes and gestures.

I loved some of the stories that were highlighted such as Charles Matthew’s ‘Monopolylogue’ performances where he played all the characters. He also collected theatrical portraits and displayed them in his house on the Kenwood Estate. The pictures became the basis of the Garrick Club’s collection.

My favourite picture was Eliza Vestris cross dressed to play Don Giovanni in ‘elastic pantaloons’.

Closes on 31 July 2017

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