{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O86234"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O86234/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9424/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9424/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK9424","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O86234","accessionNumber":"S.134:35-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[{"title":"Rex Harrison in <i>The Lionel Touch</i>","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This caricature shows Rex Harrison (1908-1990) as Lionel Fairleigh in <i>The Lionel Touch</i> by George Hulme, at the Oxford New Theatre in October 1969. 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\nRex Harrison started with the Liverpool Repertory Company at the age of 16, first appeared in the West End in 1930 and became well known in America and London as the original Professor Higgins in <i>My Fair Lady</i> on Broadway, 1956; in London, 1958, and in the 1964 film.","physicalDescription":"Pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and wash caricature of Rex Harrison in <i>The Lionel Touch</i> at the Oxford New Theatre. Dated 23 October 1969. 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":["2006AK9424"],"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":"23 October 1969","earliest":"1969-10-23","latest":"1969-10-23"},"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 Rex Harrison in <i>The Lionel Touch</i> at the Oxford New Theatre. Dated 23 October 1969.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Harrison, Rex (Sir)","id":"N2999"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.134:35-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"134","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-24","recordCreationDate":"2003-11-24","availableToBook":true}}