{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O85046"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O85046/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AV3241/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AV3241/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AV3241","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O85046/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O85046","accessionNumber":"S.1129-1986","objectType":"Painting","titles":[{"title":"Ira Aldridge as Othello in 'Othello' by William Shakespeare","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This painting depicts Ira Aldridge (1807-1867), born Frederick William Aldridge in New York, in his most famous role as Othello.\r\n\r\nAldridge made his first London appearance as Othello at the Royalty Theatre in London's East End on 11 May 1825 when he was 17 years old, billed as 'Mr. Keene, a Gentleman of Colour, from the New York Theatre'.  He played the part many times on tour in Britain before playing it again in London for two performances at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, in 1833 when the tragedian Edmund Kean was too ill to perform. Some reviewers protested about a black actor being permitted to appear at Covent Garden, and the tone of their reviews the next day was somewhat sullen. Unable to criticise a good performance outright, <i>The Morning Post </i>grudgingly conceded: 'it was doubtless sufficiently good to be considered very curious'. This was balanced by the many other publications which declared Aldridge 'a singularly gifted actor' (<i>Standard</i>), who 'evinced a great deal of feeling and nature in his performance' (<i>Spectator</i>), with 'beauties throughout his performance' (<i>Globe</i>).","physicalDescription":"Ira Aldridge onstage as Othello, full length. He wears a black, light blue and gold costume and a gilt headdress and holds a scimitar in his right hand. His left hand is raised, pointing. Behind him, right, is an indistinct seated figure, probably the Duke of Venice.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"oil colour","id":"AAT15050"},{"text":"canvas","id":"AAT14078"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painting (image-making)","id":"AAT54216"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Oil on canvas","categories":[{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Shakespeare","id":"THES253244"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AV3241"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES402707"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES402707"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"oil paintings","id":"AAT33799"}],[{"text":"frames (furnishings)","id":"AAT189814"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1848","earliest":"1843-01-01","latest":"1852-12-31"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"AAT54216"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Professor Herbert Marshall","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"42.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"34.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given to the V&amp;A  by Professor Herbert Marshall, the author, with Mildred Stock, of the biography of Ira Aldridge, published by Rockcliff in 1958. Professor Marshall was given the painting by Aldridge's daughter, Amanda.\r\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Portrait entitled <i>Ira Aldridge as Othello in 'Othello' by William Shakespeare</i>, unknown artist, ca. 1848","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Ashton, Geoffrey. <u>Catalogue of Paintings at the Theatre Museum, London.</u> ed. James Fowler, London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1992. 224p. ill. ISBN 1851771026"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Aldridge, Ira","id":"N2845"},{"text":"Othello","id":"N1141"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["Othello"],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Label for the display <i>Enthoven Unboxed: 100 Years of Collecting Performance</i>:\nAfrican-American actor Ira Aldridge achieved professional success in Europe. In 1825 he became the first black actor to play Othello in Britain. He starred in this role throughout his career and it was integral to building his reputation as a respected Shakespearean actor.\n","date":{"text":"2024","earliest":"2024-01-01","latest":"2024-12-31"}},{"text":"Pictured here in the role that made him famous, Aldridge (1807–61) was an African American who came to Britain aged 17. He made his London debut as a ‘Gentleman of Colour’, a title reflecting the rarity of black actors in Britain at that time. He took over Othello from the mortally ill Edmund Kean in 1833 and went on to find fame in mainland Europe.\r\n \r\n","date":{"text":"2009","earliest":"2009-01-01","latest":"2009-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["S.1129:1-1986","S.1129:2-1986"],"accessionNumberNum":"1129","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1986,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LU9942"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-10","recordCreationDate":"2003-10-31","availableToBook":false}}