{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O87630"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O87630/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9366/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9366/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK9366","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O87630","accessionNumber":"S.131:124-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[{"title":"Robert Eddison as Sir Andrew Aguecheek in <i>Twelfth Night</i>","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Pencil, ink and watercolour caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Robert Eddison as Sir Andrew Aguecheek in <i>Twelfth Night</i>, Old Vic Company, 1950.\n\nGilbert Sommerlad (1904–1976), a professional pianist and violinist, began his career in Brighton as an accompanist at local cinemas and theatres, and in 1936 moved to the recently built New Theatre at Oxford, where his brother Roy, also a musician, was already working. Gilbert Sommerlad was an orchestral violinist and rehearsal pianist at the New Theatre for over 40 years and, when not required in the orchestra pit, he occupied himself by sketching the performers, becoming well known in the profession as a caricaturist. His sketches, a total of 441, many signed by their subjects, were mounted in six albums which his son donated to the V&amp;A in 2001. \r\n\r\nThe Old Vic company’s production of <i>Twelfth Night</i> visited Oxford in October 1950, prior to its staging in London. The Old Vic theatre had suffered bomb damage in 1941 and remained derelict until 1950 when it was restored in time for the 1951 Festival of Britain. It reopened on 14 November with a gala performance of the <i>Twelfth Night</i> seen by Sommerlad. Peggy Ashcroft played Viola with Roger Livesey as Sir Toby, Alec Clunes as Orsino and Paul Rogers as Malvolio. \n\nRobert Eddison (1908-1991) played many Shakespearean roles in the course of a long career. The pathos of his Sir Andrew was praised, but there was some concern about the character's age. A puzzled Ivor Brown wrote that 'Aguecheek is turned from a young fool and moneyed fop into an ageing scarecrow. What point in that?' (<i>Observer</i>, 19 November 1950).  \n","physicalDescription":"Pencil and watercolour caricature of Robert Eddison as Sir Andrew Aguecheek in <i>Twelfth Night</i>. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad. Full-length figure of a thin, cadaverous man with shoulder-length yellow hair, clasping his hands together. He wears a pale grey doublet, breeches and hat, the sleeves, neck and legs trimmed with yellow ribbon, the doublet's pockets and the top of the hat edged in yellow. Signed by Robert Eddison.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Sommerlad, Gilbert","id":"A5980"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"pencil","id":"x30347"},{"text":"watercolour","id":"x33202"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawing (image-making)","id":"AAT54196"},{"text":"painting (image-making)","id":"AAT54216"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pencil and watercolour on paper","categories":[{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"},{"text":"Caricatures & Cartoons","id":"THES48983"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Theatre","id":"THES250537"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AK9366"],"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 1950","earliest":"1950-10-01","latest":"1950-10-31"},"association":{"text":"dated","id":"AAT54714"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Michael Sommerlad","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"17.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"12","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Thank you! / Robert Eddison'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Subject's signature"}],"objectHistory":"Gilbert Sommerlad was a member of the resident orchestra at the New Theatre, Oxford when he drew this caricature.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pencil and watercolour caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Robert Eddison as Sir Andrew Aguecheek in <i>Twelfth Night</i>, Old Vic Company, 1950","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Eddison, Robert","id":"N3466"},{"text":"Aguecheek, Andrew (Sir)","id":"N2572"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["<i>Twelfth Night</i>"],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.131:124-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"131","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-24","recordCreationDate":"2003-12-18","availableToBook":true}}