{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O86918"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O86918/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9279/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9279/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK9279","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O86918","accessionNumber":"S.131:36-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[{"title":"Hermione Baddeley as Polaire in <i>The Greeks Had a Word for It</i>","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This caricature shows Hermione Baddeley (1906-1989) as Polaire in <i>The Greeks Had a Word For It</i> by Zoe Atkins at the Brighton Theatre Royal in September 1935. 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\nHermione Baddeley trained as a dancer and made her stage debut in London at the age of twelve at the Court Theatre. She appeared in a wide range of stage, theatre and film roles, including the revue <i>The Co-Optimists</i>  at the Pavilion (1924), and the 1964 film <i>Mary Poppins</i> in which she played Ellen. She first appeared as Polaire when <i>The Greeks Had a Word For It</i> was produced at the Fulham Theatre in November 1933, and later at the Duke of York's Theatre in November 1934.","physicalDescription":"Pencil caricature of Hermione Baddeley as Polaire in <i>The Greeks Had a Word for It</i> at the Theatre Royal Brighton, 9 September 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":["2006AK9279"],"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":"09 September 1935","earliest":"1935-09-09","latest":"1935-09-09"},"association":{"text":"dated","id":"AAT54714"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Michael Sommerlad","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"13.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"8.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"\"POLAIRE\" \"THE GREEKS HAD A WORD FOR IT\" SEPT 9th 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 inscription by Gilbert Sommerlad."}],"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 Hermione Baddeley as Polaire in <i>The Greeks Had a Word for It</i> at the Theatre Royal Brighton, Gilbert Sommerlad, 9 September 1935,","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Baddeley, Hermione","id":"N3284"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.131:36-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"131","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-24","recordCreationDate":"2003-12-09","availableToBook":true}}