{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1293924"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1293924/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HD6517/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HD6517/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014HD6517","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1293924/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1293924","accessionNumber":"S.1221-2014","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"Henry Irving as Dubosc in The Lyons Mail","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Print showing the actor/manager Sir Henry Irving (1838-1905) as Dubosc in Charles Reade's play <i>The Lyons Mail</i>, from a drawing by Edward Gordon Craig (1872-1966), made in 1898.\n\r\nIrving became a professional actor in 1856, and learned his trade in regional theatres until 1866, when he came to London. He joined the Lyceum Theatre company under the management of H.L. Bateman in 1871, winning great acclaim that year for his psychologically developed characterisation of the guilt-ridden inn-keeper Mathias in Leopold Lewis’s melodrama <i>The Bells</i>. He took on the responsibilities of ‘actor-manager’ in 1878 when he assumed the management of the Lyceum, and remained there until 1902, enjoying star status with his leading lady Ellen Terry (1847-1928). Irving produced a diverse range of old and new plays at the Lyceum, including Shakespeare, historical drama, and literary adaptations. His tireless work to elevate the status of the theatrical profession was rewarded in 1895 when he became the first actor ever to receive a knighthood for services to the theatre.\r\n\r\nThe plot of <i>The Lyons Mail</i> centres upon a resemblance between two characters, Dubosc (a criminal who heads a gang of thieves) and Lesurques (a French Gentleman) who is accused of Dubosc's crimes. Irving played both parts in his production of the play. As Ellen Terry records in her autobiography, <i>The Story of My Life,</i> Irving did not rely on make up to distinguish between the two roles but instead used body language and facial expression.","physicalDescription":"This head and shoulders profile portrait shows the actor/manager Sir Henry Irving (1838-1905) as Dubosc in <i>The Lyons Mail</i>, from a drawing by Edward Gordon Craig. It shows Irving wearing a coat with wide lapels, and a high crowned hat, his shoulders hunched.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Craig, Edward Gordon","id":"A21585"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Printed paper","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2014HD6517"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES356615"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"prints","id":"AAT41273"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1898","earliest":"1893-01-01","latest":"1902-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the British Theatre Museum Association","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"35","unit":"cm","qualifier":"mount","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"25.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"mount","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Print showing the actor/manager Sir Henry Irving (1838-1905) as Dubosc in Charles Reade's play <i>The Lyons Mail</i>, from a drawing by Edward Gordon Craig (1872-1966), 1898","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Irving, Henry","id":"N1283"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["The Lyon's Mail"],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.1221-2014"],"accessionNumberNum":"1221","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2014,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2014-05-19","availableToBook":true}}