{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1139790"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1139790/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EG8273/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EG8273/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2010EG8273","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1139790/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1139790","accessionNumber":"S.2187-2009","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"H Beard Print Collection","type":"named collection"}],"summaryDescription":"Edmund Kean (1787-1833) is seen in this print, published in May 1814, in his costume for Richard III supporting a model of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane (labelled Whitbreads Intire) on his shoulders. Samuel Whitbread (1720-1796) is shown wearing a beer barrel and standing on the steps of the theatre shouting: 'now by St. Pauls the work goes bravely on'. \n\nRichard was Kean’s second major Shakespearean role at Drury Lane. On 26th January 1814 the then unknown actor from Exeter had demonstrated a completely new style of emotional and energetic acting with his captivating portrayal of Shylock in <i>The Merchant of Venice</i>. When Kean played it again on 1st and 3rd February the critics were out in force to report rapturously on his fresh interpretation. He chose Richard III as his next major role to consolidate his success, and to demonstrate his mastery of the lengthy part that had been associated with the great David Garrick. The rapturous reaction to Kean’s Richard meant that Drury Lane had a bankable new star in their firmament, and a smash hit production.\n\nThe brewer and MP Samuel Whitbread had been a major shareholder of Drury Lane Theatre since Richard Sheridan had called on his help after the disastrous fire of 1809 had razed the theatre to the ground. The print is a satirical comment on Samuel Whitbread's dependence on Edmund Kean's success to ensure the future financial security of the newly built Drury Lane Theatre, which at the time was close to bankruptcy.","physicalDescription":"Hand coloured and etched caricature portrait of Edmund Kean as Richard III entitled 'The Theatrical Atlas'.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Cruikshank, George","id":"N9082"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"H. Humphrey","id":"A13436"},"association":{"text":"publisher","id":"x32600"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"},{"text":"wash","id":"AAT11051"}],"techniques":[{"text":"print-making","id":"AAT131119"},{"text":"etching (corroding)","id":"AAT53840"},{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"},{"text":"hand-colouring","id":"AAT133555"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"hand coloured etching, ink on paper","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2010EG8273"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES356575"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"prints","id":"AAT41273"}],[{"text":"etchings","id":"AAT41365"}],[{"text":"caricatures","id":"AAT15634"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"7th May 1814","earliest":"1814-05-07","latest":"1814-05-07"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"S.99-1992","id":"O1136789"},"association":"Version"},{"object":{"text":"S.2531-2009","id":"O1136791"},"association":"Version"},{"object":{"text":"S.2532-2009","id":"O1136792"},"association":"Version"}],"creditLine":"Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"36.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Print size","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"25.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Print size","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Edmund Kean as Richard III supporting a model / of Whitbreads brewery.'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Written in pencil on back of print. The model is not of Whitbread's brewery but of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane."}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Caricature portrait by George Cruikshank (1792-1878) of Edmund Kean (1787-1833) as Richard III entitled 'The Theatrical Atlas'. Published in London by Hannah Humphrey on 7th May 1814, Harry Beard Collection.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Kean, Edmund","id":"N2820"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"caricature","id":"x32507"},{"text":"satire","id":"AAT55934"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":["Richard III","Richard the Third","Richard the III","King Richard III","King Richard the Third"],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.2187-2009"],"accessionNumberNum":"2187","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2009,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"H Beard collection numbering","id":"THES50444"},"number":"F.135-37"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2009-10-30","availableToBook":true}}