English Theatre Portraits

These portraits of actors and scenes from theatrical productions were originally produced to promote actors and plays. Information about the actors and theatrical productions is provided with the images. This exhibit was produced as a student project, edited by Ann Lesch and Annie Lieter in 2012 and displays select items from MS 282, Archives & Special Collections’ English Theatre Portraits Collection.

Full length engraving of actor in flowing dress and wispy veil

Miss Mansell as Angelica

Engraving of an actress named Miss Mansell as the character Angelica in the play “Sir Harry Wildair” by George Farqhuar. (282-04343)

George Anne Bellamy

Portrait of actress George Ann Bellamy. This image shows her as the Comic Muse. (282-04350)

Mr. Holman as Tancred

Theatre portrait of actor J.G. Holman as the character Tancred in “Tancred and Sigismunda” by J. Thomson. (282-04341)

Mrs. Wood in Mandane

Engraving of actress Mary Ann Wood (nee Paton) as Mandane in the opera “Artaxerxes” by Thomas Arne. (282-04348)

Mr. Harley as Lusignan

Engraving of actor John Pritt Harley as the character Lusignan in the play “Zara” by Voltaire. (282-04340)

Full-length engraving of actor with a draped cloak and big hat

Madame Vestris in Don Felix

Engraving of opera actress Lucia Elizabeth Vestris in costume as Don Felix in “The Alcaid” by Nathan Isaac. (282-04346)

Engraving of actor in costume holding an axe.

Edmon S. Connor as Wallace

Theatre portrait of Edmon S. Conner as Wallace in Wallace: The Hero of Scotland by William Barrymore. (282-04336)

Engraving of actress in full dress costume.

Mrs. Hartley in the Character of Jane Shore

Engraving of an actress named Mrs. Hartley as Jane Shore in “The Tragedy of Jane Shore” by Nicholas Rowe. (282-04352)

Signor Naldi as Figaro

Illustration of opera actor Giuseppe Naldi as the title character in “The Marriage of Figaro.” This portrait is most likely from a performance of the famous The Marriage of Figaro at the King’s Theatre in London in 1812.(282-04353)

Engraving of actress in full gown, hat, holding a crop.

Miss Elphinstone in Constance

Theatre portrait of Miss Elphinstone as Constance in The Love Chase by James Sheridan Knowles. (282-04338)

Full length engraving of actor holding a spear

Miss Graddon in Count Rudolph

Theatre portrait of Miss Graddon (also known as Mrs. Gibbs) as Count Rudolph in Sylvana by Carl Maria von Weber. Miss Graddon was a solo singer who performed at Vauxhall Gardens between 1822 and 1844. (232-04339)

Engraved full length portrait of access in dress.

Mrs. Inchbald as Lady Jane Gray

Engraving of actress Elizabeth Inchbald as Lady Jane Gray in the play “The Tragedy of Lady Jane Gray” by Nicholas Rowe. (282-04342)

Engraved portrait of actor in costume holding a skull.

Mr. Young as Hamlet

Engraving of actor Charles Mayne Young as the title character in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” This image shows Young in his London debut as Hamlet in 1807. (282-04349)

Engraved full length portrait of an actor holding a possible scarf.

Mr. Pope in Posthumus

Theatre portrait of actor Alexander Pope as the character Posthumus in Shakespeare’s “Cymbeline.” The production pictured is most likely the 1827 production at Covent Garden, mounted by Charles Kemble. (282-04344)

Engraving of man, woman, and theatrical props

Sophia Baddeley as Estifania

Theatre portrait of Sophia Baddeley as Estifania in John Fletcher’s “To Rule a Wife and Have a Wife.” The pictured production was most likely at the Drury Lane Theatre, where she made her debut and was contracted to act, but there is little record of production history from this time. (282-04335)