{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O86909"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O86909/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9278/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9278/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK9278","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O86909","accessionNumber":"S.131:34-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[{"title":"J. Baxter Somerville","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This caricature shows J. Baxter Somerville, founder of the Baxter Somerville Repertory Players at the Brighton Theatre Royal. 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\nBaxton Somerville's Repertory company, or the Brighton Repertory Company, produced several plays each year at the Brighton Theatre Royal when the theatre wasn't being used as a receiving house for touring productions. In 1935 they performed, amongst others, <i>On The Rocks</i> by George Bernard Shaw, <i>The Moon in the Yellow River</i> by Denis Johnston, <i>Viceroy Sarah</i> by Norman Ginsbury, and <i>See Naples and Die</i> by Elmer Rice.","physicalDescription":"Pencil caricature of J. Baxter Somerville, founder of the Baxter Somerville Repertory Players, dated 1935. 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"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pencil and ink 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":["2006AK9278"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES356599"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"caricatures","id":"AAT15634"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Brighton","id":"x31136"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1935","earliest":"1935-01-01","latest":"1935-12-31"},"association":{"text":"dated","id":"AAT54714"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Michael Sommerlad","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"13.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"8.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"J. Baxter Somerville","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscription in blue crayon by J. Baxton Somerville"},{"content":"1935","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Pencil incription, possibly by the sitter."}],"objectHistory":"Gilbert Sommerlad was a member of the resident orchestra at the Theatre Royal Brighton when he drew this caricature.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pencil caricature of J. Baxter Somerville, founder of the Baxter Somerville Repertory Players, Gilbert Sommerlad, dated 1935","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Baxter Somerville, J","id":"N3280"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.131:34-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"131","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-24","recordCreationDate":"2003-12-09","availableToBook":true}}