Not currently on display at the V&A

Drawing

1901-1910 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This painted illustration created for publication in an illustrated newspaper or magazine, probably the Penny Illustrated Paper. It shows a dark, night time scene, in tones of dark grey/pale black with shadows and highlights in black ink. A group of men and women gathered are outside a tall building which is illuminated with strings of white lights and decorated with a central banner labelled 'God Save the King'. Below this banner the initials 'E' and 'R' stand on either side of a crown.

The image is not dated or signed, but is likely to date from circa 1901-1910 when King Edward VII (1841-1910) was on the throne. Annotation on the rear of the image and at the base indicates that the building in the background may be the Bank of England. Given by Sir William Ingram in 1914.

This item is one of several theatrical drawings from a collection of sketches commissioned from contemporary artists to be printed in illustrated magazines. The collection was donated to the museum by Sir William James Ingram in 1914.



Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
paint on paper
Brief description
Painted illustration created for publication in an illustrated newspaper or magazine, probably the Penny Illustrated Paper. It shows a night time scene with a group of men and women gathered outside a building illuminated with strings of lights and a central banner labelled 'God Save the King'. The image is not dated or signed, but is likely to date from circa 1901-1910 when King Edward VII (1841-1910) was on the throne. Given by Sir William Ingram in 1914.
Physical description
Painted illustration created for publication in an illustrated newspaper or magazine, probably the Penny Illustrated Paper. It shows a dark, night time scene in tones of dark grey/pale black with shadows and highlights in black ink. A group of men and women are gathered outside a tall building (possibly the Bank of England) which is illuminated with strings of white lights and decorated with a central banner labelled 'God Save the King'. Below this banner the initials 'E' and 'R' stand on either side of a crown. The image is not dated or signed, but is likely to date from circa 1901-1910 when King Edward VII (1841-1910) was on the throne.
Dimensions
  • Height: 26.5cm
  • Width: 39.1cm (approximate)
Marks and inscriptions
  • '[illegible] on the Bank of England, Rehearsal last Wednesday' (Handwritten annotation in pencil, at the base of the image)
  • '8 1/2 x 13 1/8' (Handwritten annotation in pencil at the right hand side of the illustration)
  • 'P.I.P/ 9 1/2' (Handwritten annotation in pencil on the rear of the image)
  • 'Note on back The...section of the Bank of England/...Rehearsal last Wednesday' (Handwritten annotation in pencil on the rear of the image)
  • Transliteration
Credit line
Given by Sir William Ingram
Object history
Sir William Ingram (27 October 1847 – 18 December 1924) was a Liberal politician who was elected to, and sat, in the House of Commons on three occassions between 1878 and 1895. He was also the Managing Director of The Illustrated London News from the late 1870s until 1900 and became the proprietor of a number of additional publications including The Sketch and The English Illustrated Magazine.

The Illustrated London News was the world's first illustrated weekly newspaper. Founded by Sir William Ingram’s father, Herbert Ingram, in 1842 the first edition was sold on 14th May 1842 at a cost of sixpence per copy. Building from an original circulation of 26,000 to in excess of 300,000 at its peak, The Illustrated London News remained in print until 2003 and commissioned illustrations from many of the leading artists of the late nineteenth century. Photographs were used alongside illustrations from the late 19th century onwards but illustrations were a major feature of paper until after the end of the First World War.

Historical context
This sketch was one of a group of prints and pencil and pen and ink sketches donated to the museum in 1914 by Sir William Ingram (1847–1924). Part of this collection was originally donated to the Prints and Drawings Department with the majority later passing to the Theatre and Performance Department. The full collection includes work by a variety of artists amongst whom are: A. J Finberg; Ralph Cleaver; F.V.Poole and Rossi Ashton. Though not all the publications for which they were created are identified the majority of the sketches were commissioned for, and appeared in, The Illustrated London News, The English Illustrated Magazine or The Sketch.

Sir William Ingram became the proprietor of The Illustrated London News in the mid to late 1870s and remained in post until circa 1900 when he was succeeded by his he was succeeded by his son, Bruce Stirling Ingram (1877–1963). He also became the proprietor of The Sketch amongst other papers in which capacity he gave commissions to many leading artists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
Summary
This painted illustration created for publication in an illustrated newspaper or magazine, probably the Penny Illustrated Paper. It shows a dark, night time scene, in tones of dark grey/pale black with shadows and highlights in black ink. A group of men and women gathered are outside a tall building which is illuminated with strings of white lights and decorated with a central banner labelled 'God Save the King'. Below this banner the initials 'E' and 'R' stand on either side of a crown.

The image is not dated or signed, but is likely to date from circa 1901-1910 when King Edward VII (1841-1910) was on the throne. Annotation on the rear of the image and at the base indicates that the building in the background may be the Bank of England. Given by Sir William Ingram in 1914.

This item is one of several theatrical drawings from a collection of sketches commissioned from contemporary artists to be printed in illustrated magazines. The collection was donated to the museum by Sir William James Ingram in 1914.

Collection
Accession number
S.380-2011

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Record createdDecember 22, 2011
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