{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O86819"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O86819/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9594/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9594/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK9594","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O86819","accessionNumber":"S.132:69-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[{"title":"Frankie Howerd in <i>Charley's Aunt</i>","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This caricature shows Frankie Howerd (1917-1992) as Lord Fancourt Babberley in <i>Charley's Aunt</i> by Brandon Thomas, at the Oxford New Theatre in April 1956. 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\nComedian Frankie Howerd became a regular on the popular radio show <i>Variety Bandbox</i>, first broadcast 1941, and in 1950 appeared in the <i>Royal Variety Show</i>, but he is perhaps most widely remembered as the hapless slave Lurcio in the 1969 BBC comedy television series <i>Up Pompeii</i>.","physicalDescription":"Pencil, pen and ink and watercolour caricature of Frankie Howerd in <i>Charley's Aunt</i>, New Theatre Oxford. Dated 13 April 1956. 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"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawing","id":"x32498"},{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pencil, pen and ink and watercolour 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":["2006AK9594"],"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":"13 April 1956","earliest":"1956-04-13","latest":"1956-04-13"},"association":{"text":"dated","id":"AAT54714"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Michael Sommerlad","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"26.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"This is the height unmounted. Including the mount the height is 28cm."},{"dimension":"Width","value":"18","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"This is the width unmounted. Including the mount the width is 20.5cm."}],"dimensionsNote":"This is in a bound book.","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.","historicalContext":"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.","briefDescription":"Pencil, pen and ink and watercolour caricature of Frankie Howerd in <i>Charley's Aunt</i>, by Gilbert Sommerlad, 13 April 1956.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Howerd, Frankie (OBE)","id":"N3233"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.132:69-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"132","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-29","recordCreationDate":"2003-12-05","availableToBook":true}}