{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O85828"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O85828/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9398/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9398/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK9398","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O85828","accessionNumber":"S.134:9-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[{"title":"Richard Briers in <i>Relatively Speaking</i>","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This caricature shows Richard Briers (b.1934) as Greg in <i>Relatively Speaking</i> by Alan Ayckbourn, at the Oxford New Theatre in March 1967. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.\r\n\r\nRichard Briers, perhaps best known for his role as the well-meaning self-sufficiency enthusiast Tom Good in the 1975 television sitcom <i>The Good Life</i>, first appeared in the West End in 1958 in the play <i>Gilt and Gingerbread</i>. He has appeared in many works by Alan Ayckbourn on the stage and television, and in classical roles, some with Kenneth Branagh's Renaissance Theatre Company. In 2003 Richard Briers was honoured with a CBE.","physicalDescription":"Pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and wash caricature of Richard Briers in <i>Relatively Speaking</i> at the Oxford New Theatre. Dated 18 March 1967. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Sommerlad, Gilbert","id":"A5980"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pencil","id":"x30347"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"watercolour","id":"x33202"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},{"text":"painted","id":"AAT54216"},{"text":"pen","id":"x30534"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and wash on paper","categories":[{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"},{"text":"Caricatures & Cartoons","id":"THES48983"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AK9398"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES356599"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"caricatures","id":"AAT15634"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Oxford","id":"x31203"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"18 March 1967","earliest":"1967-03-18","latest":"1967-03-18"},"association":{"text":"dated","id":"AAT54714"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Michael Sommerlad","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"25.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"approximately","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"18.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"approximately","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This caricature comes from an album of caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn (with one exception) by Gilbert J.Sommerlad (1904-1976) between December 1965 and September 1971 at the Oxford New Theatre. Gilbert Sommerlad moved from Brighton to the recently built New Theatre, Oxford, to join his brother Roy (violin and clarinet) as resident pianist in 1936. He continued with his caricatures until his retirement.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and wash caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Richard Briers in <i>Relatively Speaking</i> at the Oxford New Theatre. Dated 18 March 1967.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Briers, Richard","id":"N2951"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.134:9-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"134","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-24","recordCreationDate":"2003-11-17","availableToBook":true}}