{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1172479"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1172479/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011FB5700/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011FB5700/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2011FB5700","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1172479/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1172479","accessionNumber":"S.2055-2010","objectType":"Costume design","titles":[{"title":"Drury Lane Design Collection","type":"named collection"}],"summaryDescription":"Costume design by Comelli for the role of Master of the Hounds in <i>Puss in Boots</i> as performed at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in December 1915. Drury Lane Design Collection.\r\n\r\nA production of <i>Puss in Boots</i> first performed at Covent Garden in 1817-1818, but was not a success. In 1832 another version entitled, <i>Puss In Boots: or Harlequin and The Miller's Son</i> was also performed at Covent Garden in which Eliza Povey (who played the role of the Miller's Son) was one of the earliest Principal Boys. These early productions were chiefly Harlequinades rather than the pantomime versions which are more familiar to modern audiences. \r\n\r\nDrury Lane first produced <i>Puss In Boots: or Harlequin and the Fairy Of The Golden Palms</i> in 1859, and in 1868 the theatre produced <i>Grimalkin The Great: or Harlequin Puss In Boots and The Miller's Son</i>. They had more success with their sumptuous 1887 production, which as its title (<i>Puss in Boots</i>) suggests followed the 'rags to riches' storyline of the traditional fairytale. \r\n\r\nThese designs come from a production at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in December of 1915 entitled <i>Puss in Boots, (A fairy tale)</i>. The script was written by Geo.R.Sims, Frank Dix and Arthur Collins featured music composed and arranged by J.M.Glover. It starred Miss Renée Meayer as Puss in Boots. All the costumes we 'specially designed and supervised' by Comelli. The production was mounted during World War One when business was understandably poor for the theatre, with the result that the cast were actually asked to accept a half salary for the run. Fortunately the subsequent success of the show meant that it ran from December until Easter and the cast were eventually presented with cheques making up their salary to the full amount.\r\n\r\nComelli (1858-1925) was the house designer of the Royal Opera House from the late 1880s to the early 1920s. During this period he also worked for the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and also designed costumes from a number of Gilbert & Sullivan productions.\r\n\r\nThis design comes from a collection of costume designs, some of which are costumier's copies, which were originally part of the Archives of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.","physicalDescription":"Costume design by Comelli for the role of Master of the Hounds in <i>Puss in Boots.</i> The Master wears riding boots, cream breeches, white shirt, a red knee length coat tied at the waist with a black belt and a black riding hat.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Comelli, Attilio","id":"A30582"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pencil","id":"x30347"},{"text":"watercolour","id":"x33202"},{"text":"drawing board","id":"x33403"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"glue or paste","id":"x37641"}],"techniques":[{"text":"free-hand drawing","id":"AAT53181"},{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"},{"text":"sketching","id":"AAT53576"},{"text":"glueing","id":"AAT53012"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"pencil, watercolour on paper pasted to board","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"},{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2011FB5700"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES356632"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"costume design","id":"AAT163423"}],[{"text":"paintings","id":"AAT33618"}],[{"text":"drawings","id":"AAT33973"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},"note":"probably"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1915","earliest":"1910-01-01","latest":"1919-12-31"},"association":{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by George Hoare, Archivist of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"32.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"16.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"37.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Total including mount","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"27.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Total including mount","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":" ","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Costume design by Comelli for the role of Master of the Hounds in <i>Puss in Boots</i> as performed at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in December 1915. Drury Lane Design Collection.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["Puss in Boots"],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.2055-2010"],"accessionNumberNum":"2055","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2010,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"","id":""},"number":"The Prodigal Son file"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-05","recordCreationDate":"2010-09-17","availableToBook":true}}