{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O87279"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O87279/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK7128/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK7128/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK7128","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O87279","accessionNumber":"S.130:29-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[{"title":"Howard Sylvester conducting a performance of <font -i>The Belle of New York</font -i>","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This caricature shows Howard Sylvester conducting a performance of <i>The Belle of New York</i> at the Oxford New Theatre on 23 September 1954.  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\n<i>The Belle of New York</i>, a musical by Hugh Morton with music by Gustave Kerker, originally opened in London in 1898 but it was a favourite with audiences and had several revivals in the first half of the 20th century.","physicalDescription":"Pencil caricature of Howard Sylvester conducting a performance of <font -i>The Belle of New York</font -i>, dated 23 September 1954, part of an artist's hard-backed sketch book manufactured by George Rowney & Co., called 'The Euston Sketch Book'.  The pencilled sketch is drawn directly onto the page (cream cartridge paper).  Titled and dated by the artist and signed by the subject.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Sommerlad, Gilbert","id":"A5980"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pencil","id":"THES398741"},{"text":"paper (fiber product)","id":"AAT14109"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawing","id":"AAT54196"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pencil on cream cartridge paper","categories":[{"text":"Caricatures & Cartoons","id":"THES48983"},{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AK7128"],"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":"23 September 1954","earliest":"1954-09-23","latest":"1954-09-23"},"association":{"text":"dated","id":"AAT54714"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Michael Sommerlad","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"17.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"12.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"THE BELLE OF NEW YORK  23.9.54  G.J.S.","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":"Howard Sylvester","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 Howard Sylvester"}],"objectHistory":"The artist of these caricatures, Gilbert Sommerlad, was by profession a musician who was born into a family that had a long tradition of professional musicians.    In 1936 he moved to the recently built New Theatre, Oxford, to join his brother Roy (violin and clarinet) as resident pianist.\r\n\r\nGilbert was an exceptionally good and popular rehearsal pianist, and visiting companies and individual performers used to make sure that he would be available.  He became well-known in the profession and his ability as a caricaturist became common knowledge.  The volume that includes this drawing contains sketches mostly of musical directors and conductors working at the Oxford New Theatre with Gilbert Sommerlad.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pencil caricature of Howard Sylvester conducting a performance of <font -i>The Belle of New York</font -i>, drawn by Gilbert J. Sommerlad, England, dated 23 September 1954","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Sylvester, Howard","id":"N3408"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"conductors (musicians)","id":"AAT25672"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.130:29-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"130","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-24","recordCreationDate":"2003-12-15","availableToBook":true}}