Home
/
G0818
Paintings: G0818
Title
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree
Technique
Watercolour
Subject
Character
Svengali : Trilby
Artist
Dimensions
Height: 39.1cm
Width: 21.6cm
Width: 21.6cm
Other materials
Watercolour on dark grey wove paper
Inscription/signature
"A / MORROW" (red paint b. l.)
Provenance
R. R. M. See, by whom presented to the Garrick Club,1919
Other number
CKA 582
Gift 383
Gift 383
Svengali is shown almost in caricature, with a demonic stare and long, dark grey hair.
Potter's adaptation of Du Maurier's novel was first performed at the Theatre Royal, Manchester, on 7 September 1895. It moved into the Haymarket on 30 October 1895 and ran for 254 performances, in which Tree played Svengali and Dorothea Baird played Trilby. An anonymous American version had previously opened at the Novelty Theatre on 20 July 1895, with Trant Fisher as Svengali and V. St. Lawrence as Trilby, but had an unimpressive run of only six performances. That version was probably the one that Tree had seen in Philadelphia, which inspired him to commission Potter to adapt the novel. Svengali became his best known role. There was a brief revival of seven performances at Her Majesty's on 7 June 1897, with Tree and Dorothea Baird. The money made out of the first run of the play provided the initial funds for the building of Her Majesty's.
Potter's adaptation of Du Maurier's novel was first performed at the Theatre Royal, Manchester, on 7 September 1895. It moved into the Haymarket on 30 October 1895 and ran for 254 performances, in which Tree played Svengali and Dorothea Baird played Trilby. An anonymous American version had previously opened at the Novelty Theatre on 20 July 1895, with Trant Fisher as Svengali and V. St. Lawrence as Trilby, but had an unimpressive run of only six performances. That version was probably the one that Tree had seen in Philadelphia, which inspired him to commission Potter to adapt the novel. Svengali became his best known role. There was a brief revival of seven performances at Her Majesty's on 7 June 1897, with Tree and Dorothea Baird. The money made out of the first run of the play provided the initial funds for the building of Her Majesty's.
