Prints: P1197

Title

Henry Irving as Mathias and Shylock and Queen Victoria

Technique

Engraving

Subject

Irving, Sir Henry (1838-1905)
Victoria (Queen of Great Britain)

Character

Shylock : The Merchant of Venice
Mathias : The Bells

Artist

May, Phil

Date

1889

Dimensions

Height: 20.4cm
width: 25.4cm

Other materials

Photocopy of a print

Inscription/signature

"MATHIAS AND SHYLOCK PRESENTED TO HER MAJESTY AT SANDRINGHAM" (b.c.); "PHIL MAY" (t.r) "[handwritten note] / 4.5.89"

Provenance

Bequeathed to the Garrick club by Frances Hughes, October 2022.

Other number

E0134

A scan or photocopy of a caricature by Phil May, which shows Sir Henry Irving on the right in the characters of Mathias from 'The Bells' and Shylock from 'The Merchant of Venice', being presented to Queen Victoria on the left. In April 1889 a command performance at Sandringham enabled Queen Victoria, who was a guest there, to see Henry Irving and Miss Terry for the first time. The programme consisted of ‘The Bells’ and the trial scene from ‘The Merchant of Venice.’ Phil May's signature can be seen top right corner and bottom right there is handwriting by an unidentified hand, with date of performance 4.5.1889.