{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O86285"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O86285/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9443/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9443/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK9443","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O86285","accessionNumber":"S.134:54-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[{"title":"John Bird in <i>Luv</i>","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This caricature shows John Bird (b.1937) as Harry Berlin in <i>Luv</i> by Murray Schisgal, at the Oxford New Theatre in May 1971. 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\nJohn Bird once described himself as a 'giant of comedy since TV's halcyon days of <i>Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life</i>. Actor, writer, director, he has run the gamut of entertainment since his Cambridge days, and it doesn't show in his performances'.","physicalDescription":"Pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and wash caricature of John Bird in <i>Luv</i> at the Oxford New Theatre. Dated 6 May 1971. 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":["2006AK9443"],"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":"6 May 1971","earliest":"1971-05-06","latest":"1971-05-06"},"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 John Bird in <i>Luv</i> at the Oxford New Theatre. Dated 6 May 1971.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Bird, John","id":"N3022"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.134:54-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"134","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-24","recordCreationDate":"2003-11-25","availableToBook":true}}