{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1262096"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1262096/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GT0292/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GT0292/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2013GT0292","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1262096/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1262096","accessionNumber":"S.988-2013","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"Mr Lee Lewis [sic] speaking a Prologue in the character of Harlequin","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"The comedian Charles Lee Lewes (1740-1803) in depicted here as Harlequin speaking the playwright Oliver Goldmith's prologue about pantomime and playing Harlequin which began: Hold! Prompter hold! A word before your nonsense/ I'd speak a word or two to ease my conscience. /My pride forbids it ever should be said/ My heels eclipsed the honours of my head;/ That I found humour in a piebald vest/Or ever thought that jumping was a jest'. The stage direction then noted: 'Takes off his mask'. Later came the lines: 'How hast thou filled the scene with all  thy brood/ Of fools pursuing, and of fools pursued!/ Whose ins and outs no ray of sense discloses/ Whose only plot it is to break our noses;/Whilst from below the trap-door demons rise; And from above the dangling deities.' It continued with the words: 'And shall I mx in this unhallowed crew?/May rosined lightning blast me if I do!' - printed here as 'Rosins Lightening' [sic]. Harlequin goes on to say how he longs to act with: 'tragic rage' instead - to play a Shakespearean part such as Richard III, but realises that this is just a dream: 'for now there's no retreating/ If I cease Harlequin, I cease from eating.' At the end of his prologue the stage direction notes: 'Taking a jump through the floor'.\n\nLewes (originally Lewis) first appeared at Covent Garden on 23rd September 1767 as Prince Henry in <i>King John</i>. Perhaps to avoid confusion with the actor Philip Lewis (also at Covent Garden), he was now billed as Lee Lewes. He played various supporting roles during the 1767-8 season, and after appearing in Bristol returned to Covent Garden where he remained for sixteen seasons, playing Harlequin in the 1770-71 season in <i>The Rape of Prosperine</i>, <i>Harlequin's Jubilee</i>, and<i> Mother Shipton.</i> Lewes played Young Marlow in the first performance of Oliver Goldsmith's <i>She Stoops to Conquer</i> in March 1773, and for Lewes's Benefit on 7th May 1773, Goldsmith added this prologue for Lewes to speak.\n\nSometimes described as an epilogue, the words asking the Prompter to wait: 'before your nonsense' means it probably was a prologue as is stated on this print. When originally presented in March 1773 the play featured a prologue spoken by the comedian and Harlequin Henry Woodward, and no epilogue.","physicalDescription":"Print depicting Lee Lewis in costume as Harlequin, gesturing with his right hand held high, his left hand holding his mask.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"engraver","id":"x30813"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Fielding and Walker","id":"A26607"},"association":{"text":"publisher","id":"x32600"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"print-making","id":"AAT131119"},{"text":"engraving","id":"AAT53225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Print, printed ink on paper ","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"},{"text":"Pantomime","id":"THES266218"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2013GT0292"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES356570"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"print","id":"AAT41273"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"14th January 1780","earliest":"1780-01-14","latest":"1780-01-14"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"C.24-1993","id":"O20916"},"association":"Object"},{"object":{"text":"C.23-1994","id":"O250128"},"association":"Object"},{"object":{"text":"S.619-1997","id":"O1139092"},"association":"Object"},{"object":{"text":"27E-1874","id":"O20404"},"association":"Object"},{"object":{"text":"414:833/3-1885","id":"O20491"},"association":"Object"}],"creditLine":"Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"25.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"17.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Print only","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":"Print depicting Mr Charles Lee Lewes (1740-1803) as Harlequin, published by Fielding & Walker, 14th January 1780. Harry Beard Collection","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Lee Lewes","id":"N10590"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[{"text":"","id":""}],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["Harlequin"],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.988-2013"],"accessionNumberNum":"988","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2013,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2013-04-02","availableToBook":true}}