{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O86439"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O86439/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9533/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9533/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK9533","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O86439","accessionNumber":"S.132:8-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[{"title":"Richard Attenborough as Valentine Crisp in '<i>Sweet Madness</i>'","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This caricature shows Richard Attenborough (b.1923) as Valentine Crisp in <i>Sweet Madness</i> by Peter Jones, at the Oxford New Theatre in May 1952. 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\nActor, director and producer Sir Richard Attenborough made his stage debut in 1941 and his first film, <i>In Which We Serve</i>, in 1942. He became well known in the 1960s for military roles in films, and directed epic films including <i>A Bridge Too Far</i> (1977) and <i>Gandhi</i> (1982).","physicalDescription":"Pencil, ink and watercolour caricature of Richard Attenborough as Valentine Crisp in <i>Sweet Madness</i> by Peter Jones at the Oxford New Theatre, 1 May 1952. 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":"watercolour","id":"x33202"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pencil, ink and watercolour on paper","categories":[{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"},{"text":"Caricatures & Cartoons","id":"THES48983"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Formal wear","id":"THES48950"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AK9533"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES356598"},"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":"1 May 1952","earliest":"1952-05-01","latest":"1952-05-01"},"association":{"text":"dated","id":"AAT54714"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Michael Sommerlad","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"23","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"23/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-23","latest":"2026-01-23"},"part":"Cover","note":"Part of an album "},{"dimension":"Length","value":"29","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"23/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-23","latest":"2026-01-23"},"part":"Cover ","note":"Part of an album"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This caricature comes from an album of caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert J.Sommerlad (1904-1976) between December 1951 and October 1957 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, ink and watercolour caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Richard Attenborough as Valentine Crisp in <i>Sweet Madness</i> at the Oxford New Theatre. Dated 1 May 1952.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Attenborough, Richard Samuel (Lord)","id":"N3051"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.132:8-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"132","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-23","recordCreationDate":"2003-11-27","availableToBook":true}}