{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O87004"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O87004/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9298/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9298/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK9298","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O87004","accessionNumber":"S.131:56-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[{"title":"John Gielgud as Mr Mason in <i>He Was Born Gay</i>","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This caricature shows John Gielgud (1904-2000) as Mr. Mason in <i>He Was Born Gay</i> by Emlyn Williams at the Oxford New Theatre in August 1937.  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 and director Sir John Gielgud made his London debut in 1921 at the Old Vic Theatre as the Herald in <i>Henry V</i> and went on to become one of Britain's greatest actors.  He directed <i>He Was Born Gay</i> with Emlyn Williams and it was first produced at the Queen's Theatre in May 1937 before going on tour. Gielgud directed and acted in many productions in London and at the Stratford Memorial Theatre, including <i>The Cherry Orchard</i> (1954) and <i>The Chalk Garden</i> (1956), and appeared in many films. His autobiography <i>Early Stages</i> was published in 1939 and he was knighted in 1953.","physicalDescription":"Pencil caricature of John Gielgud as Mr Mason in <i>He Was Born Gay</i>, New Theatre Oxford, 17 August 1937. 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"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pencil 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":["2006AK9298"],"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":"17 August 1937","earliest":"1937-08-17","latest":"1937-08-17"},"association":{"text":"dated","id":"AAT54714"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Michael Sommerlad","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"16.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"10.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"MR MASON - \"HE WAS BORN GAY\" 17.5.37","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."},{"content":"John Gielgud","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Pen and ink signature by John Gielgud."}],"objectHistory":"Gilbert Sommerlad was a member of the resident orchestra at the New Theatre, Oxford when he drew this caricature.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pencil caricature of John Gielgud as Mr. Mason in <i>He Was Born Gay</i>, New Theatre Oxford, Gilbert Sommerlad, 17 August 1937","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Gielgud, John","id":"N1278"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.131:56-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"131","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-24","recordCreationDate":"2003-12-10","availableToBook":true}}