{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1223305"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1223305/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GW6451/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GW6451/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014GW6451","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1223305","accessionNumber":"S.339-2011","objectType":"Drawing","titles":[{"title":"Henry Irving as King Lear","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Bernard Partridge (1861-1945) was a painter and illustrator who became the principal cartoonist of <i>Punch</i> magazine.  He acted at the Lyceum in his youth, using the name Bernard Gould, and made many drawings of Irving, some which appeared in the theatre's souvenir programmes. His work has provided both a record of costumes and scenery and of the dramatic effect of Irving's performances.\r\n\r\nThis image shows the actor Henry Irving (1838-1905) in the title role of <i>King Lear</i> by William Shakespeare (1564-1616).  Lear is one of the most important parts to play for any tragic actor of high standing.  Irving had first discussed doing so in 1883 and eventually produced the play in 1892.  Accounts of his performance vary, but many who saw the opening night felt he had badly misjudged the vocal interpretation, his voice being weak and often inaudible.  Although he made adjustments to correct this, the dramatic criticism of the press was based on the first performance.  Despite this, <i>King Lear</i> ran for 76 performances, an unprecedented achievement at the time for a play which was not popular with audiences on account of its gloomy and depressing themes.","physicalDescription":"Full length portrait of Henry Irving in the title role of <i>King Lear</i>. He is shown in profile standing with his arms crossed over his chest. In his right hand he clasps a sword and a round shield has been mounted on the stone wall behind him. He is dressed in a long, flowing robe, a wide mantle wrapped over and around his shoulders. Both robe and mantle are patterned with line drawn, geometric motifs of circles and diamonds. Signed in bottom right hand corner.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Partridge, John Bernard (Sir RI)","id":"A4278"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"charcoal","id":"AAT12862"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"gouache","id":"AAT70114"},{"text":"pencil","id":"x30347"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painting (image-making)","id":"AAT54216"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Charcoal, pencil and gouache on paper","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2014GW6451"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES356677"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"drawings","id":"AAT33973"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"early 20th Century","earliest":"1900-01-01","latest":"1950-12-31"},"association":{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"THM/227","id":"ARC68679"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"Gabrielle Enthoven Collection","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"35.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"22.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Bernard Partridge'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Signature, bottom right hand corner"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Drawing by Bernard Partridge of Henry Irving in the title role of <i>King Lear</i>, early twentieth century.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Irving, Henry","id":"N1283"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["King Lear"],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.339-2011"],"accessionNumberNum":"339","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2011,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2011-06-01","availableToBook":true}}