{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O86118"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O86118/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9410/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9410/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK9410","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O86118","accessionNumber":"S.134:21-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[{"title":"Michael Hordern in <i>Enter a Free Man</i>","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This caricature shows Michael Hordern (1911-1995) as George Riley in <i>Enter a Free Man</i> by Tom Stoppard at the Oxford New Theatre in February 1968. 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\nMichael Hordern, the gentlemanly but mournful-looking stage, cinema and television actor, made his first professional stage appearance in 1937 after a career as a teacher and businessman. In a prolific career he worked with the Royal Shakespeare, Old Vic and National Theatre Companies, made numerous film and television appearances, and received a knighthood in 1983.","physicalDescription":"Pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and wash caricature of Michael Hordern in <i>Enter a Free Man</i> at the Oxford New Theatre. Dated 22 February 1968. 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":["2006AK9410"],"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":"22 February 1968","earliest":"1968-02-22","latest":"1968-02-22"},"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 Michael Hordern in <i>Enter a Free Man</i> at the Oxford New Theatre. Dated 22 February 1968","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Hordern, Michael (Sir)","id":"N2979"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.134:21-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"134","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-24","recordCreationDate":"2003-11-20","availableToBook":true}}