image details
Full image caption
Tinsel portrait Madame Vestris as Apollo. A handcoloured theatrical souvenir plate engraved with a portrait of the actress Madame Vestris in the role of Apollo. Born to a famous family of French ballet dancers, Lucy Eliza Vestris had a distinguished career in burlesque and comedy on the London stage. As a theatre manager, she improved the historical detailing of scenery and costume, and introduced real props to the stage.
Portraits decorated with foil were known as 'tinsel prints'. This print has been embellished with metal foil tinsel ornaments on the dress, shoes, hat, jewellery and harp. Silk cloth has also been applied for the clothing. This is a particularly fine example of a tinsel portrait and may have been done professionally as a sample. Such sheets would have been sold plain, as theatrical souvenirs for colouring and tinselling at home.
Portraits decorated with foil were known as 'tinsel prints'. This print has been embellished with metal foil tinsel ornaments on the dress, shoes, hat, jewellery and harp. Silk cloth has also been applied for the clothing. This is a particularly fine example of a tinsel portrait and may have been done professionally as a sample. Such sheets would have been sold plain, as theatrical souvenirs for colouring and tinselling at home.
Artist/Photographer/Maker
Date
1837 AD - 1840 AD
Image Number
002273