{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O87101"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O87101/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9311/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9311/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK9311","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O87101","accessionNumber":"S.131:69-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[{"title":"Ralph Lynn in <i>London After Dark</i>","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This caricature shows Ralph Lynn (1882-1962) in <i>London After Dark</i> at the Oxford New Theatre on October 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\nThe Manchester-born actor Ralph Lynn made his first appearance on the London stage at the Empire Theatre in 1915, having already appeared on the stage in the United States. He developed his character of a monocle-wearing 'silly ass' aristocrat, and became one of the most accomplished actors in farce on the British stage.  With Tom Walls and Robertson Hare he was part of the trio of actors who appeared in the pre-war Aldwych Theatre farces written by Ben Travers including <i>Tons of Money</i> (1922), <i>Rookery Nook</i> (1926), <i>Plunder</i> (1928) and <i>Turkey Time</i> (1931). After reprising his stage role as Gerald Popkiss in the 1929 film of the Aldwych Farce <i>Rookery Nook</i> with Tom Walls, Winifred Shotter, Mary Brough and J. Robertson Hare, Lynn appeared in several other films.","physicalDescription":"Pencil caricature of Ralph Lynn in <i>London After Dark</i>, New Theatre, Oxford, October 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":["2006AK9311"],"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":"October 1937","earliest":"1937-10-01","latest":"1937-10-31"},"association":{"text":"dated","id":"AAT54714"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Michael Sommerlad","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"19.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"12.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Gilbert Sommerlad was a member of the resident orchestra at the New Theatre, Oxford when he drew this caricature.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Ralph Lynn in <i>London After Dark</i>, New Theatre Oxford, October 1937.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Lynn, Ralph","id":"N3336"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.131:69-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"131","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-24","recordCreationDate":"2003-12-11","availableToBook":true}}