{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O158355"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O158355/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EG8436/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EG8436/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2010EG8436","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O158355/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O158355","accessionNumber":"S.31-2008","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"Satirical print of Edward Topham struggling to write epilogues and prologues, one for Sarah Siddons, 1785","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This image of a writer kicking over a table in a fit of frustration encapsulates some widely held ideas about the creative process. That it is solitary, difficult - hence the frustration the author is displaying - and that it requires a muse, or person to inspire the work. In this instance, the muse, depicted in the portrait on the wall, or perhaps just the subject for whom he is trying to write, is the famous actress Sarah Siddons. The writer is Edward Topham (1751-1820), journalist, playwright, and the prolific author of prologues and epilogues for plays by other dramatists. Nicknamed 'Captain Epilogue', Topham was well known in London high society and was a frequent subject of caricatures, mainly on account of his fashionable dress.\n\nTopham's discarded papers on the floor refer to epilogues for the actresses Mary Wells (1762-1829), with whom Topham lived and by whom he had four children; Sarah Siddons (1755-1831), and a prologue for Elizabeth Farren (1762-1829). By 1785, the date of this print, Sarah Siddons had become a hugely successful tragedian at Drury Lane Theatre. The daughter of strolling actors Roger and Sarah Kemble, her first appearance there in December 1775 had not been a success but after six years performing in theatres outside London she returned to Drury Lane in October 1782 when her acclaimed performance in the title role of Southerne's <i>I<i>sabella, or, The Fatal Marriage</i></i>ensured her reputation as the greatest actress of her day.","physicalDescription":"Hand-coloured etching, showing Edward Topham, seated, in profile facing right, holding a quill pen and kicking over a small round table. On the floor beneath the table are an inkstand and fragments of discarded papers inscribed: 'Epilogue Mrs. W... Hay-Market; Epilogue Mrs. S...s Drury-Lane, and Prologue for Miss F... Covent Garden.'\n\nOn the wall a circular portrait of Sarah Siddons, facing left. In the upper left hand corner, a parrot in a cage speaking the words: 'BRAVO CAPTN PROLOGUE! BRAVO!' which appear to the right of the cage.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"George, William","id":"A26568"},"association":{"text":"publisher","id":"x32600"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"},{"text":"watercolour","id":"x33202"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"print-making","id":"AAT131119"},{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"},{"text":"hand-colouring","id":"AAT133555"},{"text":"etching (corroding)","id":"AAT53840"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"hand-coloured etching, ink and paint on paper","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"},{"text":"Satire","id":"THES250449"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2010EG8436"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES404996"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"prints","id":"AAT41273"}],[{"text":"etching (printing process)","id":"AAT53241"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"13th January 1785","earliest":"1785-01-13","latest":"1785-01-13"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"26","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"30.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"<i>THE MOMENT OF IMAGINATION / Pubd. January the 13. 1785 by W. George. No.277 Strand","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed beneath image"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'The Moment of Imagination' depicting Edward Topham (1751-1820) and Sarah Siddons (1735-1831). Hand-coloured etching published in London by W. George, 13th January 1785, Harry Beard Collection.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Topham, Edward","id":"N9605"},{"text":"Siddons, Sarah","id":"N926"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.31-2008"],"accessionNumberNum":"31","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2008,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"H Beard collection numbering","id":"THES50444"},"number":"F.136-7"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LU7524"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-09","recordCreationDate":"2008-07-03","availableToBook":false}}