{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1512252"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1512252/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MF7567/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MF7567/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019MF7567","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1512252/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1512252","accessionNumber":"S.614-2019","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Figure of Giuditta Pasta as Medea","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This figure made by the property maker Martin Adams represents the Italian mezzo-soprano Giuditta Pasta (1797-1865) as Medea, the title role of Simon Meyr's opera <i>Medea in Corinto</i>. Madame Pasta made her professional debut in Milan in 1816, the year she married fellow singer Giuseppe Pasta. Her first appearance in London the following year was a failure, but following successful appearances in Venice, Paris, Milan and Naples, she became an internationally recognised star. Her dramatic performance of Medea's thirst for revenge was acclaimed by critics on her first appearance in the role in London in 1826.\n\nPrincess Victoria saw Madame Pasta in London on three occasions at the King's Theatre in 1833, and in her journal entry for the 11th May 1833 noted that: 'she sang and acted beautifully' as <i>Medea</i>, in a programme that included Taglioni in her father's two-scene ballet <i>Nathalie</i>. On 27th June 1833 Victoria saw Pasta as Norma, in a programme that included Niccoló Paganini. Victoria also sketched Pasta as Medea, and it is in this connection that this figure was made to be part of <i>Royal Box</i>, the V&amp;A exhibition about royalty and the theatre in 1977, the Silver Jubilee of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne\n\nSince making this figures, one of ten he made for the exhibition, Martin Adams went on to specialise in jewellery and jewellery-related props, making items including crowns, jewellery and sceptres for hundreds of films, television shows and theatrical productions.\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n\n\n\n","physicalDescription":"Figure of Giuditta Pasta mounted on a metal  rod, wearing a full-length low-cut white Classical-style dress, with gold coronet and gold  bangles","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Martin Adams","id":"A23110"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Galvanised wire armature on metal rod, modelled with DAX self-hardening modelling clay painted in acrylic paint base with gouache details. Yak and synthetic hair, mixed fabrics, beads, buttons and sequins, ribbon, lace and Copydex adhesive.","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Figures","id":"THES274372"},{"text":"Royalty","id":"THES48899"},{"text":"Opera","id":"THES263971"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2019MF7567"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES355417"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"figures","id":"AAT189808"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1977","earliest":"1977-01-01","latest":"1977-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This figure is one of ten Victorian and Edwardian personalities made by the property maker Martin Adams for the exhibition <i>Royal Box</i>, held at the V&A from 3rd May until 2nd October 1977. They were commissioned by Alexander Schouvaloff, Head of the Theatre Collections at the Victoria & Albert Museum, for the exhibition designed by the set designer Bruno Santini. Each was made on a two inch to one foot scale, and was mouted on a metal rod for display purposes, the rods planted in blocks of polystyrene foam. The set comprised King Edward VII, The Mikado, Marie Taglioni, Niccolò Paginini, Lily Langtry, Giuditta Pasta, Vesta Tilley, Dan Leno, and Henry Irving and Queen Victoria, made to hold hands","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Figure of Giuditta Pasta (1797-1865) as Medea, made for the exhibition <i>Royal Box</i>, V&A 1977. Mixed media, made by Martin Adams, 197","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Pasta, Giuditta","id":"N1471"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.614-2019"],"accessionNumberNum":"614","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2019,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-18","recordCreationDate":"2019-09-27","availableToBook":true}}